The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County is on a mission to end hunger, but with federal budget cuts and a dwindling job market, those in need of their services are only expected to increase.
The statistics are staggering: The Food Bank already serves one in every three Santa Barbara County community members, and Santa Barbara County currently has the second highest poverty rate in the state. “We believe that our neighbors deserve access to healthy food,” says Laurel Alcantar, Director of Marketing with The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County.
In March, unexpectedly, USDA food shipments and Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) stopped. An estimated $4 million loss of “in kind” food and funds. As a result, The Food Bank moved quickly to develop a new program that served our community with less federal support. The result is a “Farm to Foodbank” program, in which food is sourced from local, small-scale farms to fill the gap created by federal cuts. “In lessening how we rely on federal government support, we’re localizing the food system,” she says, “putting local dollars back in our community.”
The organization distributes fresh produce on Saturdays throughout the county—from Lompoc to Santa Barbara—in addition to so much more. They have a grocery reuse program, Grocery Rescue, that saves goods from local landfills, and backyard gleans bring volunteers to overgrown fruit trees. The Foodbanks’ Children's nutrition education programs offer a farmers market and Healthy School Pantry program, for children and families. 38% of those served are children.
For The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, the goal to end hunger is just one barrier. Because their mission of “moving the community from hunger into health” doesn’t just translate to delivering food for seniors, families, and community members in need. “Food insecurity can impact everyone,” says Alcantar. Their programs help distribute food, but also educate everyone in the community.
In order to create “a better future for our community” as The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County envisions, get involved. The organization's buying power is multiplied with each donation. "If you donate $1, we can turn that into $5 of food,” says Alcantar.
One easy way to help is through their Foodbeats program. Like Spotify or Netflix, Foodbeats allows everyone a chance to stream whole foods into the bodies of those in need, starting at just $5 a month. Or create an account on VolunteerHub and be on the lookout for regular volunteer opportunities popping up in your inbox. If you’ve got a backyard that needs to be gleaned, fill out the form found at foodbanksbc.org/backyardbounty2.
Or enjoy an acqua della vita cocktail at Bettina or chimichurri corn ribs at Paloma where a portion of the proceeds go toward the nonprofit. Check out more participating restaurants as part of the 2025 Dine Out For Hunger Campaign at info.foodbanksbc.org/on-the-table-campaigns-happenings.
To learn more about the organization, or to get involved, visit foodbanksbc.org.
If you donate $1, we can turn that into $5 of food.