Food Bank Of Santa Barbara County
Question: What is the name & mission of your nonprofit?
Answer: The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County transforms hunger into health for families, children, individuals and older adults by providing nutritious groceries and fresh produce to those who need them, and, for everyone, the skills and knowledge to employ food to achieve optimal wellness. The Foodbanks countywide Disaster Feeding Plan has and continues to guide an ongoing emergency response to the Covid-19 economic crisis.
Q: How long has your nonprofit been in service and whom was it started by?
A: The Foodbank was launched in 1982. Were proud to celebrate 40 years of service Santa Barbara County in 2022.
Q: What was the inspiration behind your nonprofit?
A: The Foodbank evolved in response to community members caring for others who did not have enough food to eat.
Were pleased to remain agile to respond as our community and the circumstances we face continue to evolve as well. From natural disasters like fire and debris flow, to problems like federal government shutdowns that leave thousands of steadily employed residents suddenly without paychecks for months, to protracted economic and health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Foodbank has remained an agile support for those in the community facing food insecurity and hunger for any reason.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded and what are your greatest needs?
Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your nonprofit?
Noozhawk Asks: Whats Your Question
Welcome to Noozhawk Asks, a new feature in which you ask the questions, you help decide what Noozhawk investigates, and you work with us to find the answers.
Heres how it works: You share your questions with us in the nearby box. In some cases, we may work with you to find the answers. In others, we may ask you to vote on your top choices to help us narrow the scope. And well be regularly asking you for your feedback on a specific issue or topic.
We also expect to work together with the reader who asked the winning questions to find the answer together. Noozhawks objective is to come at questions from a place of curiosity and openness, and we believe a transparent collaboration is the key to achieve it.
The results of our investigation will be published here in this Noozhawk Asks section. Once or twice a month, we plan to do a review of what was asked and answered.
Thanks for asking!
Foodbank Of Santa Barbara County Seeking Support For Upcoming Lompoc Empty Bowls Fundraiser
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Of all the cities struggling with hunger, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County says Lompoc has been hit the hardest this year.
Lompoc is definitely the community in Santa Barbara County Where the economic struggle is felt in the most dense way,” said senior communications managerJudith smith-Meyer of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.
And the economic impact from COVID hasnt done the city any favors.
Its taking a long time for people to bounce back. And there are still economic stresses that are new. Not just from COVID. Inflation . gas prices its hitting very hard in Lompoc,” said Smith-Meyer.
Directors with the foodbank say at least 30 percent of the population in Lompoc is experiencing hunger right now.
Families are slammed. Its affecting childrens families individuals older adults,” said Smith-Meyer.
So for the first time since 2019, the foodbank is returning to its annual Lompoc Empty Bowls event on Wednesday.
This is a big deal because it is the only fundraiser in Lompoc. Lompoc is a high need area for the foodbank. We have seen some ups and downs since the COVID-19 pandemic and we wanna make sure that were able to support the community,” said senior development manager Laurel Alcantar of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.
The foodbank team says anyone can join the Lompoc Empty Bowls fundraiser including neighboring communities.
The event pairs handcrafted bowls with gourmet soups.
Recommended Reading: Second Harvest Food Bank Phone Number
Foodbank Of Santa Barbara County
In a lively TED talk delivered November 2019, Erik Talkin illustrates why people facing hunger and food insecurity need more than just groceries to be healthy and become more food secure. Watch: tinyurl.com/ErikTalkinTEDTalk Featured are outlines of the Foodbank’s award-winning Children’s Health Initiative “Feed the Future” and other approaches used to increase food literacy among all residents of the county, in both the daily disaster of hunger as well as in the face of large-scale emergencies.
Free Food Banks Groceries And Soup Kitchens Santa Barbara County
Find the locations, phone numbers, and addresses of churches, food banks, free pantries and distribution centers across Santa Barbara County. Most of the centers near you are set up as non-profit organizations. A number of sites provide free meals, groceries and give away free food today and daily to people of all backgrounds that may be faced with an emergency or crisis situation. Find details below as well as a phone number at the bottom of the page for more food assistance programs in Santa Barbara.
Each facility offers its own type of assistance. Some food banks provide fruits, vegetables, meats, baby formula and breads. Others may offer more so called food boxes or give away free grocery bags which contain groceries and other non-perishable items. So what is available from each pantry will vary widely. Many also provide free Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners or food boxes.
In addition, some centers have on-site thrift stores or clothing closets for work or school clothes, furniture, or personal hygiene products. If you are going through a difficult period, never hesitate to contact a Santa Barbara California food bank for help or information on local assistance programs.
Catholic Charities Community Services oversees, in partnership with other local charities, churches and non-profits, the food banks listed below. The main phone number is 684-8621. Or a Santa Barbara County resident can drop in if they live near a site.
Read Also: Community Food Bank Of Nj
The Food Bank Of Santa Barbara County Transforms Hunger Into Health For All
Getting from hunger to health requires understanding the difference between eating enough calories and choosing healthy foods. The Food Bank is pushing beyond the traditional scope of a food bank by providing more than just food.
The annual “Global Day of Giving” is upon us this holiday season and what better way to give back to your community then joining in on #GivingTuesday by donating to the organizations that make Santa Barbara a place we are proud to call home.
Noozhawk is teaming up with local nonprofits to encourage you to take part in the international day of giving, which takes place on November 30th, 2021.
It is no secret that this pat year and a half has been full of challenges. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic local nonprofits need your support now more than ever. Our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section provides all the resources you need to donate this holiday season!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Judith Smith-Meyer, Senior Communications Manager at Food Bank of Santa Barbara County, to learn more about how the nonprofit is dedicated to ending hunger and transforming the health of Santa Barbara County through good nutrition.
A Valiant Effort To End Food Insecurity
Over the past couple decades we have witnessed the Foodbank increase the population it serves, expand its services, and develop programs to meet the issue of food insecurity in a holistic fashion. It has been particularly nimble in its response to the economic crisis the community faces right now.In this city, in this country, in this age, its criminal that anyone would not have access to quality sustenance. We believe that those of us who can must step up and support the Foodbank in its valiant effort to end food insecurity. We believe in the hope the Foodbank provides. Fred and Sarah Kass, Fred and Sarah Kass met in Boston while Fred was in medical school and moved to Santa Barbara after his fellowship. Fred is a medical oncologist. Sarah is an OB Ultrasound tech.
Don’t Miss: West Texas Food Bank Midland Tx