Foodbank CEO and community leaders will be on hand April 26 to launch Healthy Community Pantry, which provides local produce and staples, as well as nutritional education, to local families.
Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is launching a Healthy Community Pantry on April 26, 2016, at Harding School, on Santa Barbara’s Westside. During the recurring monthly pantry, an estimated 75 families will receive a generous bag of local produce and 10 nutritious food staples, a recipe matched to their seasonal produce, and other resources and tools to help their family get ahead nutritionally.
The Healthy Community Pantry takes an innovative approach to solving food insecurity issues and building a healthy community. Designed as a health fair, the pantry provides access to healthy food and produce, food demonstrations and food literacy education, physical exercise, gardening tips for growing food, bicycle blenders and games, CalFresh enrollment (formerly food stamps), community health screenings, and opportunities for skill building and community involvement.
“We are excited to announce our newly launched Healthy Community Pantry,” said Erik Talkin, CEO of the Foodbank. “Each pantry offers fresh produce, healthy foods and nutrition education to local families and takes an innovative approach to building a healthy community and solving the issue of food insecurity.”
The pantry also creates an opportunity to empower and connect community members which is central to the Foodbank’s core values. Pantry attendees are invited to participate in the Nutrition Advocates Network, a nutrition and leadership program that trains community leaders in nutrition education, community organizing, project management, and self improvement. Trainees can go on to volunteer as leaders in their community, where they can model health and wellness, promote change, and be the voice for underrepresented community members.
Pantry Event Details
Date: April 26, 2016 (and every 4th Tuesday of the month after that)
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Harding University Partnership School, 1625 Robbins St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Event Activities:
Healthy food demonstration by local nutritionists and food service providers
CalFresh outreach by Foodbank
Health and wellness information by Harding Elementary
Healthy food distribution by Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
Nutrition counseling by William Sansum Diabetes Center
Health Promotion Services of SBNC provides referral to non-profits depending on the family needs; certified enrollment counselor to help individuals and families apply for Medi-Cal and Covered California Health insurance coverage.
Information on family conflict and landlord disputes offered by Conflict Solutions Center
The Foodbank has been the driving force behind the Healthy Community Pantry by convening the Westside Impact Group. This group, consisting of Westside residents, city officials, health entities, hunger-relief nonprofits, health care providers, and schools, shares a common interest in and commitment to improving the Westside community’s ability to solve the issue of food insecurity. The Foodbank has relied on a network of community partners, as well as guidance from community conversations with neighborhood residents, to make this pantry a reality: Cancer Center of Santa Barbara with Sansum Clinic, Catholic Charities, Cottage Health, Harding University Partnership School and ELAC, Free Methodist Westside Initiative, Office of Cathy Murillo, Santa Barbara Unified School District, Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics – Westside Neighborhood Clinic, Trinity Episcopal Church, Uffizi Order, United Way, United Boys and Girls Club, Westmont College, Westside Community Group, Westside Healthcare Advocacy Team, William Sansum Diabetes Center.
About Foodbank 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 its award-winning programs and a network of over 300 member non-profit partners. In Santa Barbara County, one in four people receive food support from the Foodbank; over 146,000 unduplicated people of whom nearly 35% are children. Last year, the Foodbank distributed 9.7 million pounds of food — half of which was fresh produce. For more information, visit www.foodbanksbc.org.