Lisa Carreno Introduces United Way's 211 Sonoma Programs
Our speaker for August 20, 2026 was Lisa Carreno, President and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country. Lisa was accompanied by her 211 Sonoma team members, Jennifer Lake, Sowmya Kodityala, and Paco Cano. Lisa’s presentation focused on the role of 211 Sonoma as a community navigation resource, the economic challenges facing Sonoma County residents, and two newly launched initiatives: Ride United and the TextFood/TextComida food resource texting service.
United Way of the Wine Country, approaching its 60th year of community service, administers 211 Sonoma, a free 24/7 human navigation service available to Sonoma County residents. The United Way’s “real cost measure” provides a data-driven picture of what it costs to live in Sonoma County. According to the report, a family of four (two adults, one preschooler, one school-age child) requires a minimum annual income of $114,000 to meet basic needs, while the county's average wage stands at approximately $84,000, leaving a $26,000 shortfall. In 2023 more than 43,000 people fell below the real cost measure. The next real cost measure report, due in 2027, is expected to show a 25-30% expense increase over current figures. To help meet this need, 211 Sonoma employs live, bilingual call center staff capable of communicating in over 150 languages. The service conducts deep listening intake sessions that lead to family assessments and care plans, connecting individuals and families to the resources they need before situations escalate into costly crises. Since United Way assumed administration in June 2019, 211 Sonoma has recorded nearly 160,000 live navigation contacts and referrals to over 170,000 resources. The most common reasons for contact include housing, food, utilities, healthcare, transportation, senior services, and disaster recovery. 211 Sonoma also plays a formal role in Sonoma County's emergency response infrastructure, operating within the Emergency Operations Center during disasters such as the Woodside Fire, and engaging weekly with the Dept. of Emergency Management on resilience and preparedness initiatives.
Ride United Transportation Access is a new initiative within 211 Sonoma, funded through a partnership between United Way Worldwide and Lyft. From November through June 1, 2026, the pilot provided 250 subsidized rides to community members - primarily adults over 50 - who lack reliable transportation for essential needs including medical appointments, social services visits, job interviews, food pantry pickups, tax preparation, and legal appointments such as eviction hearings. Another new program, TextFood/TextComida is a text-based food resource service that allows residents to find nearby food pantries and meal programs by texting their zip code - no app, no account, and no login required. The service was originally created in 2020 by a group of volunteers in the Sonoma Valley and is now managed by United Way. Residents can text “Food” or “Comida” to receive automatic replies with information about nearby food services.
Thank you, Lisa, for the wonderful presentation and for helping United Way in its transition to kitchen table issues affecting Sonoma County residents.
