More Hunger in Higher Ed in Santa Barbara County

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County reports a 35-45 percent increase in the demand by college students for free food given away at its food pantries. “It’s shocking,” exclaimed Judith Smith-Meyer of the Foodbank. At UCSB, student demand for Foodbank food increased from 183,000 pounds to 210,500 in the past year. At Allan Hancock, the increase was from 130,000 pounds to 152,197. at Santa Barbara Community College — where issues of hunger and homelessness have been discussed more frankly — the numbers went up from 119,000 pounds to 183,000.