The demand for food assistance in Santa Barbara County has increased steadily over the past 30 years and the Foodbank has responded by distributing over 120 million pounds of food to people in need. Still today, approximately 1 in 4 county residents rely on the Foodbank through a variety of food assistance programs from Santa Maria to Carpinteria.

This year, the Foodbank is including a community challenge and is asking Santa Barbara County Residents to harvest and donate their own produce during the drive. There will be a friendly competition for businesses and organizations to collect the most food and funds. Awards will be given to top participating teams. To join, visit www.foodbanksbc.org/food_drive.html#form and complete the online form. A Foodbank representative will contact you and provide further details on how to participate. If you wish to donate independently, please deliver food to the Foodbank or to give a financial donation online visit www.foodbanksbc.org.

To launch the Anniversary Spring Food & Funds Drive, Santa Ynez Valley wineries will participate in the Food on the Vine April 13 – 15. Bring three canned goods to Alexander & Wayne, Arthur Earl, Avant Tapas & Wine, Beckman, Casa Cassara, Curtis, Foley, Lucas & Lewellen, Lincort, Scott Cellars, Toccato, Tercero and get a complimentary tasting. A kickoff event will take place at Avant Tapas & Wine on Friday, April 13th 5 pm – 7 pm. Food on the Vine is sponsored by Avante Tapas & Wine and Vern McWilliams, Silversmith/ Kay Neola McWilliams, Artist/ Mrs. Donald D. Dawson.

To participate please contact:

North County

Darlene Chavez, Community Leadership Manager

490 W. Foster Road

Santa Maria, CA 93455

(805) 937-3422 x109

dchavez@foodbanksbc.org

South County

Eloisa Chavez, Community Leadership Organizer

4554 Hollister Ave.

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

(805) 967-5741 x112

echavez@foodbanksbc.org

About the Foodbank

The Foodbank is a non-profit organization that works to eliminate hunger by distributing food, education, and other resources through its own programs and to a network of 290 member non-profit agencies and programs in our county. In 2011, the Foodbank distributed 11 million pounds of food, 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 in our county.

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