November cover story: Groups in region busy helping those in need

While hunger and finding a safe and warm place to sleep remain year-round challenges for many people in the 805 region, the need is especially acute during the winter months as the weather changes and the temperatures start to dip.

Fortunately, the growing need coincides with the renewed spirit of giving by many in the community, who take part in a variety of programs designed to fill that growing need, from canned food drives to special fundraising events.

That spirit was visibly demonstrated on Nov. 3 when more than 100 frozen turkeys were delivered to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s location in Santa Maria.

Local residents and long-time Foodbank supporters Stu and Jan Bartleson donated the turkeys as part of the kick-off to Foodbank’s annual Thanksgiving Drive, which continues through Nov. 26.

Wells Fargo is sponsoring the drive with a one-to-one $15,000 challenge grant.

“Wells Fargo knows how many families depend on the services of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, especially now as we near the holidays,” Joe Mathai, Wells Fargo Valley Coastal president, stated in a media release. “Being able to offer food and assistance to those in need is crucial. We hope the Santa Barbara County community joins us in our support of this great organization and helps them continue the great work they do for our community.”

Those scheduled to attend the kick-off event included Wells Fargo district managers Kathie Voss and Mark Corella, store managers Vera Biely, Jessica Hernandez, Blanca Jeronimo and Pete Llena, and Diane O’Neill, Wells Fargo market support consultant.

The goal of the drive is to raise $160,000 to support holiday distribution needs and collect more than 4,500 chickens or turkeys to help families carry on the tradition of taking part in a warm Thanksgiving meal with loved ones, organizers reported. Turkey donations will be matched at $15 each.

“A Thanksgiving meal signifies a special time to reflect and give thanks,” Erik Talkin, CEO, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, stated in the release. “With support from the community and sponsors like Wells Fargo, Foodbank strives to make this time of year a joyous one for all, especially those who might otherwise have gone without.”

While the economy has been steadily improving after the great recession, the need continues for many people.

In Santa Barbara County, one in four people receive food support from the Foodbank — more than 144,000 unduplicated people of whom nearly 40 percent are children. Last year, the Foodbank distributed food and resources to support 9.3 million meals, half of which was fresh produce through a network of more than 330 member nonprofit partners in Santa Barbara County.

Besides the Turkey Drive, volunteers at Foodbank also have been busy with other charitable events including the 17th annual Santa Barbara Empty Bowls luncheon held Nov. 2 at the Ben Page Youth Center in Santa Barbara.

Nearly 1,000 people attended this year’s Empty Bowls event.

In 2013, the event raised $146,000 for Foodbank through corporate donations, ticket sales, a silent auction and raffle.

Since the event’s inception in 1998, Santa Barbara Empty Bowls has donated more than $1 million to Foodbank to help alleviate hunger in Santa Barbara County and has provided huge community awareness for Foodbank’s mission and work.

For a donation of $30 or more, participants chose a bowl handcrafted by local ceramic artists, enjoyed a simple meal of soup, bread and water, and got to take home the bowl as a reminder of the meal’s purpose to feed the hungry in our community, organizers reported.

After the meal, attendees had the opportunity to see what Foodbank does first-hand through a visit to the Foodbank’s Santa Barbara warehouse facility next door, organizers reported. Guests learned about Foodbank’s Feed the Future program through demonstration booths, got to blend healthy smoothies on the human-energy powered bike blender, sampled healthy sweets and were able to see where fresh produce and non-perishable goods are stored at Foodbank’s warehouse.

“I am in awe of the impact this event has been able to make in our community and how beloved it has become,” Danyel Dean, founder of Santa Barbara Empty Bowls, stated in the release. “This event offers people the chance to participate on so many levels, giving of their talents and resources and deepening the understanding of the work done by the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.”

Gourmet soups were donated this year by Arlington Tavern, Benchmark Eatery, Four Seasons Biltmore, Bouchon, Ca’Dario, Downey’s, Fresco Café, Louie’s, Lucky’s, Max’s, Olio e Limone, Opal, San Ysidro Ranch, Savoy, Seagrass, The Secret Ingredient, Sly’s, Stella Mare’s, The Lark, Toma, Tre Lune and Zookers.

The event was sponsored by the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, Tomchin Family Charitable Foundation, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the Towbes Foundation, Sue and J.W. Colin, Cyndee Howard, NS Ceramic, Ford Family Foundation, Anonymous, Rabobank, Susan Rose & Allan Ghitterman, Union Bank, BB & H Benefit Designs, Molly Baur Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt, Jeff and Susan Bridges, American Riviera Bank, Brylen Technologies, Jack Tiethof Family, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Lockwood, Leon and Elizabeth Olson, the Phyllis Schechter Family, Green Hills Software, Schipper Construction, Santa Barbara Woodie Club, Sara Miller McCune, Montecito Bank & Trust and Glacier Asset Management LLC.

Donations were also made by ceramic artists from the SBCC Center for Lifelong Learning, SBCC Ceramics Dept., local elementary and high schools, and local professional potters. In-kind donations were from Classic Party Rentals, Cheryl Fontana Design, Haagen Printing, Marborg Industries, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara News-Press, Skyview Projects Brand Marketing and Sunburst Printing. Pizza Guru donated pizza for volunteers.

Visit Foodbank of Santa Barbara County at http://www.foodbanksbc.org for more information on the Thanksgiving Drive and other events this holiday season.

 

Take a Hungry Person to Lunch event to be held Nov. 18

People of Ventura are invited to take a break from their routines and join in “Take A Hungry Person to Lunch Day” on Tuesday, Nov. 18, Lift Up Your Voice ministry program and Ventura Interfaith Ministerial Association reported in a media release.

The event is being held as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which runs from Nov. 15 to 23.

Lift Up Your Voice and the Ventura Interfaith Ministerial Association are co-sponsoring this event, which gives community members the opportunity to share a meal with someone experiencing homelessness.

“This event gives you a chance to break bread with someone whose life path has most likely been very different from your own. For the cost of a couple of meals, you’ll provide a welcome moment of connection for someone who is currently homeless, and no doubt gain some insight that very well may change your life,” Lift Up Your Voice Interim Director Sue Brinkmeyer stated in a media release.

To sign up to participate, contact Kathy Powell at kathypurpleprincess@gmail.com or call 805-910-8860 for more information.

 

FOOD Share — Ventura County’s Food Bank to hold third annual CAN-tree Collection food drive

The third annual CAN-tree Collection food drive will return to The Collection at RiverPark the weekend of Dec. 5-7, organizers reported in a media release.

With a goal of 150 CAN-trees – each built with about 600 to 800 cans – teams will work together to construct 6-foot-tall CAN-trees that will be showcased throughout the weekend. Last year, 103 CAN-trees were constructed by the community, which totaled 81,200 canned goods for the regional food bank that feeds 74,500 hungry individuals per month.

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 takes care of needs in northern 805 region

A holiday food drive and a turkey trot in Pismo Beach and Avila Beach are part of a series events planned this holiday season by Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County.

The organization launched its “Hope for the Holidays” annual holiday food drive on Nov. 1, with the event continuing through Dec. 24.

Food Bank is seeking donations of canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, soup, beans, peanut butter, tuna and other non-perishable items. 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.

Food Bank will benefit from the “South Coast Turkey Trot at Pismo Beach” starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27 at the Barn at the Pismo Beach pier. There is a $1 entry fee. Visit www.southcountyturkeytrot.com for more information.

Food Bank will also benefit from the “Turkey Trot at Avila Beach” starting at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27 at the Avila Community Park. There is a suggested $10 donation at the event. Visit www.slofoodbank.org or call 805-238-4664 for more information.

Food Bank will also take part in the “Giving Tuesday” event on Dec. 2. Visit http://www.givingtuesday.org for more information.

 

Light Up a Life event to benefit Hospice of Santa Barbara

Hospice of Santa Barbara will host its 31st annual holiday “Light Up A Life” celebrations, inviting families and friends to gather in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria to celebrate the lives and memories of their loved ones, organizers reported in a media release.

Hundreds of lights and stars will illuminate memorial trees at each site, with more stars available at each ceremony for those who wish to hang their own personalized tribute. All donations benefit Hospice of Santa Barbara.

The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Casa de la Guerra, 15 E. De La Guerra St., Santa Barbara; 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Camino Real Marketplace, Storke & Marketplace Drive, Goleta; and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at Seal Fountain at Linden Plaza, Linden Avenue, Carpinteria. There is a suggested donation of $15 to purchase a star. Call 805-563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org for more information.