With November just around the corner, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is busy preparing for their annual community Turkey Drive and has some exciting news to share! This year, Wells Fargo will be sponsoring the Turkey Drive with a $25,000 one to one matching grant. Beginning on Thursday, November 1st, Foodbank invites the community to provide the key ingredient to the Thanksgiving holiday meal for local families in need. The annual Turkey Drive kicks-off countywide on November 1st and runs through Friday, November 22nd.

Both monetary donations as well as donations of turkeys and chickens can be made during the drive. Foodbank’s goal is to raise $25,000 to support holiday distribution and collect 3,000 turkeys in order to help families carry on the tradition of taking part in a warm Thanksgiving meal with loved ones. Turkey donations will be matched at $15 each.

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

“Thanksgiving is our country’s most important reminder of the benefits of coming together around a meal,” said Erik Talkin, CEO, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “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.”

The Foodbank is well on its way towards this goal with the Wells Fargo matching challenge, and a generous donation from the Bartleson family, who will donate 100 frozen turkeys to the Foodbank’s Santa Maria location to kickoff the drive. Also rising to the occasion are those at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) who is providing a $5,000 cash donation toward the drive. Other organizations, individuals or businesses are encouraged to participate in the drive.

Contributions can be dropped off in both Santa Maria and Santa Barbara locations:

Santa Maria

Drop-offs can be made at the Santa Maria Foodbank facility located on 490 W. Foster Road, from 7:30am to 3:30pm on weekdays

Though Foodbank is only open on weekdays, they will open their facilities during a one-day event on Saturday, November 16 from 8:00am to 3:00pm to allow those who can’t stop by during regular weekday hours to make a donation

Santa Barbara

Sunday, Nov 17th – Four churches in Montecito as part of their M-4 Turkey Wranglers campaign will be collecting turkeys for Foodbank (Montecito Covenant Church, All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church, El Montecito Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church)

Drop-offs can also be made at the Santa Barbara Foodbank facility located on 4554 Hollister Avenue, from 7:30am to 3:30pm on weekdays

Though Foodbank is only open on weekdays, they will open their facilities during a one-day event on Saturday, November 16 from 8:00am to 3:00pm to allow those who can’t stop by during regular weekday hours

Online Fund Donations

Individuals can also donate funds electronically at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fosbc/event/39885.

To see updates on the Foodbank’s Turkey Drive campaign or for more information, visit www.foodbanksbc.org/turkeydrive.html. For more information or to volunteer during the Turkey Drive or holiday season, please visit Foodbank at www.foodbanksbc.org or call (805) 967-5741.

About the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County

The Foodbank is celebrating over 30 years of eliminating hunger and food insecurity by distributing nutritious food, education, and other resources through its own programs and to a network of over 300 member non-profit partners and programs in Santa Barbara County. Last year, the Foodbank distributed the resources for more than 8.5 million meals – of which fully half was fresh produce. This served over 102,000 unduplicated people from Carpinteria to Santa Maria, an amazing 1 in 4 people. For the fifth consecutive time, the Foodbank has recently been given a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities. Only 4% of the charities rated have received at least 5 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Foodbank of Santa Barbara County outperforms most other charities in America. More information at www.foodbanksbc.org.

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