Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Wins Nationwide Competition
On Monday, with less than 48 hours to go and the Foodbank falling behind, the organization had issued a plea and a challenge to the community: for 1,000 votes to secure a winning spot. As Tuesday dawned, the final day of the Challenge, the nail-biting began as the Foodbank remained outside of the winners’ circle – in position 43. Foodbank had to pull ahead with just hours to go. Friends and supporters had been voting all month long, but with major new funding at stake, our community moved into high gear.
At the close of the Challenge, Santa Barbara had climbed the ranks, with the additional 1,000 votes, from 43 to 28 in a single day, securing its spot among the top 40 and winning $45,000 to help feed local children through its Picnic in the Park Summer Food Program.
“We know there were groups and individuals in the community, and others far from Santa Barbara, spending time sending out the message to vote on our behalf. It was thrilling for us to see how much support the Foodbank has and how people are prepared to swing into action when we need help.” said Erik Talkin, CEO, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “Thanks to everyone who helped us reach our goal. Now we can focus on our real goal to make sure that Santa Barbara County is healthy and hunger free.”
In its third year, the Foodbank’s Picnic in the Park Summer Food Program promotes wellness and healthy eating during summer months and helps bridge the gap for children throughout Santa Barbara County who receive free or reduced lunches during the school year, but face the summer without. About 84% of children in the County who receive free or reduced lunches during the school year get nothing in the summer months. For many children, what should be an exciting season for play with friends, a family vacation or time at the pool, can instead mean a time of hunger. Picnic in the Park provides 2,500 local, low income children 35,000 free nutritious meals (over 700 meals per day throughout Santa Barbara County) and educates kids, families and the public about healthy eating and staying active. Whole Foods Market (Santa Barbara) is supporting the Picnic in the Park Program through a generous donation of 38,000 durable lunch bags.
How to remove the Walmart Facebook App
If you were among those who contributed your time by voting for the Foodbank through Facebook, thank you and the following instructions will allow you to remove the Walmart app from your account: log-in to your Facebook account and go to Privacy Settings>Apps>My Local Walmart, then click “edit” (small pencil icon) then “delete”. This will remove it from your profile.
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 11 million pounds of food – translating into 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 here.