Holiday season is typical time for organizations to raise awareness of those in need in the region
From Amigos805 staff reports
A multitude of ceramic bowls contributed for the Santa Barbara Empty Bowls event to be held Nov. 1 at the Ben Page Youth Center in Santa Barbara. Photo courtesy of Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.
Given the rebounding economy and the stereotypical image of a laid-back Golden State, the statistics seem stark.
One in four individuals, a total of 146,198 people, received food support through programs and partners of Foodbank of Santa Barbara County in 2014.
Nearly half of those served by the organization were children.
A total of 9.1 million pounds of food were distributed last year by Foodbank, fully half of it as fresh produce.
The need is great, not only in Santa Barbara County, but throughout the 805 region.
While combating hunger is a year-round effort, many organizations put added emphasis on reaching those in need by launching during the holidays food drive campaigns.
Santa Barbara Empty Bowls
Volunteers display ceramic bowls contributed for the Santa Barbara Empty Bowls event to be held Nov. 1. Photo courtesy of Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will begin its holiday efforts in earnest with its annual Santa Barbara Empty Bowls luncheon at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 at the Ben Page Youth Center, 4540 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara.
For a donation of $30 or more, participants choose a bowl handcrafted by local ceramic artists, enjoy a simple meal of soup, bread and water, and take home the bowl as a reminder of the meal’s purpose to feed the hungry in the community, organizers reported in a media release.
Following the luncheon, attendees are invited to visit Foodbank’s warehouse, which is located next door at 4554 Hollister Ave.
More than 800 people attended the Empty Bowls event in 2014, which raised $108,109 for Foodbank through corporate and foundation support, ticket sales, a silent auction and a raffle. Overall, the event has raised more than $1 million in the past 17 years.
Empty Bowls is hosted by Santa Barbara Empty Bowls Committee members, which include Danyel Dean (Founder), Diane Durst, Cathy Closson, Merrillee Ford Bev Hanna, Donnalyn Karpeles, Nancy Krug, Elizabeth Olson, Laurie Potter, Shanon Sedivy, Linda Shillerstom and Dierdre Woode.
Tickets can be purchased at the door. Click here to make a donation or for more information.
Foodbank’s Thanksgiving Drive begins
The Empty Bowls event is just the beginning of Foodbank’s efforts this holiday season.
The organization will kick off its annual Thanksgiving Drive at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2 in Santa Maria, when it is scheduled to receive a donation of 100 turkeys from Stu and Jan Bartleson, organizers reported.
The 10th annual donation by the Bartlesons is part of the effort to provide 30,000 Santa Barbara County families with healthy and nutritious holiday meals.
Foodbank seeks to collect 1.4 million pounds of food (or 1.16 million meals) and 4,000 turkeys or chickens before the drive ends on Nov. 26. Foodbank officials also hope to raise $160,000. Wells Fargo, the Thanksgiving Drive sponsor, has provided a $10,000 matching grant to help reach the goal.
Visit Foodbank of Santa Barbara County at http://www.foodbanksbc.org or call 805-967-5741 for more information on the Thanksgiving Drive and other events this holiday season.
FOOD Share launches its 2015 Tackle Hunger Campaign
FOOD Share Treasurer Tim Noonan, and President of Dole Packaged Foods and 2015-2016 Tackle Hunger Campaign Chair Brad Bartlett take part in the 2015 Tackle Hunger Campaign kick-off breakfast at the Dole Packaged Foods HQ in Westlake Village on Oct. 15. Photo courtesy of FOOD Share — Ventura County’s Food Bank
Meanwhile, in Ventura County the holiday fight against hunger began even before Halloween when FOOD Share — Ventura County’s Food Bank, launched its official 2015 Tackle Hunger Campaign kick-off breakfast on Oct. 15 at the Dole Packaged Foods headquarters in Westlake Village.
Hosted by Brad Bartlett, president of DOLE Packaged Foods, the event highlighted FOOD Share’s efforts to feed the growing number of hungry families throughout Ventura County during the last few months of the year.
FOOD Share feeds children, families and seniors every month with food distributed through 194 pantries, soup kitchens, churches and rescue missions. The campaign features a variety of events including the second annual Lexus LaceUp Running Series, presented by Saucony, held in Ventura on Oct. 24, and the upcoming annual CAN-tree Collection food drive in Oxnard.
Fourth annual CAN-tree Collection food drive
A youthful volunteer helps with the annual CAN-Tree Collection food drive in 2014. Photo courtesy of FOOD Share — Ventura County’s Food Bank
FOOD Share will present its fourth annual CAN-tree Collection food drive Friday through Sunday, Dec. 4-6 at The Collection at RiverPark, Oxnard.
A record 300 can-trees, each containing between 600 and 800 cans, will be constructed by volunteers at The Collection at Riverpark. The event is presented and sponsored by The Collection and Cumulus Media.
“This is the most beautiful way to start the holiday season. The streets are filled with trees made from cans that local businesses and organizations have come together to build,” the organization reported in a media release. “The generosity turns into a wonderful ‘feel good’ event. This is the part of CAN-tree that we all love and have a hard time putting into words. The atmosphere throughout the weekend is one of tremendous gratitude and love (and maybe a little competition). From the participants to the on-lookers – everyone walked away with a feeling of hope. This is a time when people share their stories with us – it may be that they have a kitchen overflowing with food that they want to share or that they are successful today because there was a food bank that helped them when they needed it the most.”
By the time the volunteers are done, FOOD Share estimates there will be more than 200,000 canned goods lining the Park View Court, exceeding the nearly 200,000 pounds of food collected at last year’s event.
The centerpiece will be two 14-foot-tall can trees created by studence of ACE Charter High School.
Monetary donations to FOOD Share will also be accepted all weekend. For every $25 donated, the regional food bank will be able to provide $125 worth of food to families in need.
In more than 35 years, FOOD Share has grown from serving a few hundred hungry people per month to 74,500.
Staff and volunteers distribute more than 10 million pounds of food annually from its distribution sites — more than 180 partner agencies, which include neighborhood and church food distributions and soup kitchens as well as hunger assistance programs. FOOD Share’s programs provide healthy nutrition and education to children, families and seniors, which include KIDS Share, SENIOR Share, Nutrition Education, Community Market, SoCal Gas CARE Program and ART Share.
Visit www.foodshare.com for more information.
FOOD Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County launches Season of Hope
Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County announced its “Season of Hope” campaign on Oct. 12.
“While the Central Coast continues to recover during these tough economic times, some of our friends and neighbors are struggling to make ends meet. You can help make this holiday season a little brighter for those in need by joining us for the fourth annual Season of Hope,” the organization reported in a media release.
KSBY-TV has teamed up with local food banks, toy agencies, fire departments and sponsors to put together a community-wide food and toy drive, organizers reported.
Non-perishable food items can be taken to any local fire station or partner through Dec. 18.
To view a list of the most needed food items, click here.
To view a list of drop-off locations, click here.
Food Bank of SLO launches Hope for the Holidays food drive
Food Bank will launch its annual Hope for the Holidays food drive on Nov. 1 and will continue to collect food through Dec. 24.
“Our annual Turkey Drive will take place one week before Thanksgiving Day,” Food Bank reported. “Your turkey donation can help feed a family this holiday season; please stop by one of our three drop-off locations.”
The organization’s annual Turkey Trot will be held at 8:30 a.m. rain or shine on Thursday, Nov. 26 at both the Bob Jones trail at Avila Beach and the south side of the pier at Pismo Beach.
The suggested entry donation is $10. Every $1 donated provides $10 worth of nutritional food for members in need in the community.
Donations can be made online by going to http://www.slofoodbank.org, by mail at P.O. Box 2070, Paso Robles, CA 93447 or by calling 805-238-4664.
Visit www.slofoodbank.org or call 805-238-4664 for more information.
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County provides a variety of options to make donations
Santa Maria
Drop-offs can be made at the Santa Maria Foodbank facility at 490 W. Foster Road, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays with extended hours to 5:30 p.m. beginning Nov. 18. The Friday, Nov. 14 Drive-Thru event is from 3 to 7 p.m.
Santa Barbara
Drop-offs can be made at the Santa Barbara Foodbank facility at 4554 Hollister Ave. from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays with extended hours to 5:30 p.m. beginning Nov. 18.
- Through Dec.12: Participate in KSBY’s Season of Hope — www.ksby.com/pages/season-of-hope/
Online Fund Donations
- Individuals can also donate funds electronically at http://donate.foodbanksbc.org
- Visit http://www.foodbanksbc.org/thanksgiving-drive/ for updates on the Turkey Drive. Visit www.foodbanksbc.org or call 805-967-5741 to volunteer during the Thanksgiving Drive or holiday season.
- Local Girl Scout troops will participate in the drive throughout the community.
Important Dates
- 2-26: Annual Thanksgiving Drive
- 19: Deadline for turkey and chicken donations — early donations ensure the Foodbank can distribute these birds to partner nonprofits in time for Thanksgiving.
- Nov 21: 11a.m. to 2 p.m.: Clare Kelly’s Girl Scout Gold Award Project Hunger Awareness & Nutrition Fair Sign-up to sort produce and shelf-stable food donations and repack them for families in need.