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“Fill the Foodbank!” Drive-thru Food Drive and Turkey Drive 2021 Provide Healthy Food to People Facing Hunger Countywide
November 6, 2021 @ 10:00 am PDT
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is asking the community to donate non-perishable food items to provide healthy groceries to neighbors facing food insecurity this winter. Fill the Foodbank! on Saturday, November 6 is the Foodbank’s semi-annual Drive-thru Food Drive. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Foodbank’s Santa Barbara warehouse at 4554 Hollister Avenue (adjacent to the Ben Page Youth Center) or, in Santa Maria, at the Trader Joe’s Parking Lot at 1303 S. Bradley Road, community members may drop-off non-perishable food items.
Most needed items include low-sugar nut butters, canned protein such as tuna or chicken, beans, rice, whole grain cereals, pasta and canned tomatoes or sauce.
The Foodbank’s goal is to collect enough food to fill one large truck, or 40,000 pounds of healthy groceries. In true drive-thru fashion, those donating food need never get out of their cars. Foodbank volunteers will unload donated items and contributors will be on their way! It’s an easy way to drop off groceries on the way to or from work, Saturday errands, exercise or recreation.
“With an especially difficult winter and holiday season expected for families and individuals living with food insecurity and low incomes, food assistance is a key element of staying healthy,” explained Kelly Johnson, Foodbank community engagement and learning manager.
“Dropping off a bag of food is an easy and very useful way to help ward off hunger for our neighbors in need this year.”
The Foodbank’s 2021 Turkey Drive runs now through November 24 for Thanksgiving delivery, and into December for later holiday delivery.
Turkeys and chickens are welcome donations and the Foodbank aspires to collect 3,000 birds for holiday dinners for those facing hunger this holiday season.
Fresh or frozen turkeys or chickens may be dropped off Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at either Foodbank warehouse (see above for Santa Barbara address or Santa Maria warehouse at 490 West Foster Road.
Other collection sites include the American General Media family of radio stations in Santa Maria, on Wednesday, November 17 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Santa Maria Nissan/Mazda at 1001 East Battles Road.
South County community members may also drop off turkeys at two Montecito churches on Sunday November 21 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church at 83 Eucalyptus Lane or Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church at 1300 East Valley Road.
Community members may learn more about Fill the Foodbank! and the Foodbank’s 2021 Turkey Drive atFoodbankSBC.org/GiveFood.
Anyone who would like to contribute but without dropping off food, may make a financial contribution at FoodbankSBC.org/VirtualFoodDrive21.
About Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is transforming health by eliminating hunger and food insecurity through good nutrition and food literacy. The Foodbank provides nourishment and education through a network of more than 300 partner agencies, nutrition education programs and food distribution sites operated by the Foodbank and its volunteers. Over the last year, our response to the Covid-19 economic crisis has included distributing 27 million pounds of food, making more than 65,000 home deliveries of healthy groceries to seniors and adults with disabilities, and launching new services in high-poverty areas, such as our Healthy Farmworkers program. For many people in our community, recovery from the economic crisis is expected to take 18 to 24 months. With the community’s continued support, the Foodbank will be a significant driver of economic recovery for Santa Barbara County. For more information, visit FoodbankSBC.org.