What is Change for Change?
Change for Change is Community Market’s giving program that supports local nonprofits and community organizations doing essential work in our community. When you shop at Community Market, you can make a donation at the register.
All of the money goes directly to the featured organization. There are no processing fees and no overhead taken out. Just community members supporting community work.
We are proud to highlight local organizations and help share the work they are doing. The next time you are shopping, consider adding a little extra at checkout. If you would like to suggest a future Change for Change recipient, you can reach out to our Community Outreach and Event Coordinator.
Strengthening Resilience, Building Hope
The Living Room is Community Market’s current Change for Change recipient. Since 1993, this Sonoma County nonprofit has created a place where women and their children can find safety, food, connection, and practical support during times of housing insecurity and urgent need.
Their work begins with meeting people where they are, without shame or judgment, and grows from there: helping individuals and families build stability, strengthen resilience, and move toward a more secure future.
“We’re not helping women, we are serving women.”
The Living Room’s work is rooted in dignity, relationship, and community. In One Woman’s Journey, hear what that kind of support can mean in the life of someone who has experienced The Living Room firsthand.
Food is one of the many ways The Living Room creates connection and stability. Their kitchen provides meals for Life Center participants, low-income seniors, youth, and local families while also rescuing food that can be shared throughout the community.
In this video, members of The Living Room community share how the kitchen has grown alongside the need in Sonoma County, the relationships built around food, and their plans to dramatically expand the program’s capacity.
A Place to Start
For someone experiencing homelessness, leaving an unsafe situation, struggling to afford food, or simply unsure where to turn, The Living Room’s Life Center offers a safe and welcoming place to begin.
Visitors can find a hot meal, a shower, connection to health and wellness services, case management, peer support, and help navigating resources for housing, food, medical care, employment, transportation, and public benefits.
The Life Center serves women, children, gender-expansive individuals, and their pets, with a trauma-informed approach centered on dignity, connection, and long-term stability.
More Than One Kind of Support
The Living Room’s programs respond to the many different challenges that can come with housing insecurity and financial hardship.
Housing
The Living Room provides transitional housing for up to 35 women and children, creating a supportive environment focused on community, physical and mental well-being, life skills, and long-term stability.
Food
Their food program provides meals, groceries, fresh produce, and educational meal kits to people throughout the community. In 2025 alone, The Living Room served more than 66,000 meals.
Resources and Connection
Through the Life Center, participants can access peer support, computer services, assistance with CalFresh, Medi-Cal, WIC and other benefits, legal and disability-resource navigation, skill-building groups, bilingual Spanish-English support, and connections to additional services.
Why Change for Change Matters
Housing insecurity and food insecurity are deeply connected, and the cost of basic necessities continues to put pressure on individuals and families throughout Sonoma County.
The Living Room responds with practical, immediate support while also helping people build toward greater stability and self-reliance.
Their food program is growing as community need grows. The organization is currently working toward a major kitchen expansion that will increase its ability to prepare meals, rescue food, and support other local food programs.
Through Change for Change, small contributions at the register become part of that larger community effort.
How You Can Support The Living Room
There are several ways to support The Living Room and the people they serve:
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Add a donation at the register during your next Community Market shopping trip.
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Volunteer your time in the kitchen, Life Center, thrift store, or other programs.
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Donate food, clothing, household items, or other needed supplies.
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Learn more about their programs and share their work with others.
Every contribution helps The Living Room continue providing food, safety, connection, resources, and a place to begin again for people in our community.