Fill the Foodbank! Drive-thru Donation Drop-Off

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is asking the community to donate non-perishable food items that are urgently needed to provide healthy groceries to the community this holiday season. Fill the Foodbank! is a first-ever Drive-thru Food Drive on Saturday, November 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Foodbank’s Santa Barbara warehouse at 4554 Hollister.

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 Saturday errands.

“The Foodbank is tasked with providing enough healthy food to those who are facing unexpected difficult times or who just don’t earn enough to keep food on the table when all the other bills get paid,” noted Foodbank director of operations Paul Wilkins. “We’re looking to the community to ensure there is enough for everyone to come to the table this holiday season.”

Fill the Foodbank! Drive-thru Food Drive is planned in lieu of the annual south county letter carriers food drive, typically held in November, during which community members leave bags of groceries at their mailbox for pickup by the letter carriers. That food drive brings in 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of food each year.