Free summer lunch for kids

Summer can be a tough time for children who rely on free and reduced-price meals during the school year. So this summer, free "Grab & Go" take-away meals will be available to all children (18 or younger) at over 50 locations countywide. No paperwork or registration is required. Measures have been taken to ensure the safety and cleanliness of each site. Choose from three ways to find the location nearest you:

• Text SUMMERFOOD to 877-877 or text FOOD to 877-877
• Click here for a list of all locations and their hours of operation
• Call the Foodbank at (805) 967-5741

The meals are made possible by the USDA Summer Food Service Program, No Kid Hungry, Goleta Union School District, Santa Barbara Unified School District, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, the United Way, the City of Santa Barbara, Community Action Commission and the United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara County.

No child should go hungry this summer.

Summertime shouldn't be hungry time for children. Did you know that there are places all around the county where kids can get free meals this summer? Here are three great resources to keep children fed and happy. Tell a friend!

1. Food finder tool
To find the kids summer meal site nearest to you, use the Summer Meal Site Finder at  www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks . Click on the “Find Sites” drop down, enter your address, and you’ll see a list of sites near your location. Click any site to see its details, like dates and times.

Click to enlarge

.2. Food at school
School districts offer free lunch to children during summer months. Check out these flyers showing the locations in North County, Mid County, and South County. Some sites also offer breakfast, supper, or morning or afternoon snack—you can find details for each site here. 

3. Picnic in the Park
The Foodbank's Picnic in the Park program offers free lunches to children all summer long, Monday through Friday. There are no income requirements, sign-ups or registration process. See these flyers showing the locations in North County and South County. Or, find a nearby site by texting SUMMERFOOD to 877-877. (You can also print this flyer to share that text number with others.)

Pictures from Food Day

The Food Day kickoff celebration in Santa Barbara on October 24 was a success. Held in partnership with County of Santa Barbara's Public Health and Community Action Commission, the event featured activities, community resources, cooking demos, raffles and all-around celebration of healthy food for everyone regardless of income.  Two of our own Department of Social Services staff were on hand to help people learn about CalFresh, a program that helps low-income people afford food. Click the "Read More" link below for some fun pictures (courtesy of Caro Stinson and Holly Carmody). 

Public invited to free celebration of healthy food for all

The public is invited to attend a free kick-off event for Food Day — a celebration to promote healthy food for all. The event takes place at the Back Door Deli, 315 Camino Del Remedio in Santa Barbara, from 11 am to 1 pm on Friday, October 24.

The celebration will feature local growers, cooking and gardening demonstrations, raffle prizes, a Zumba for preschoolers exercise demonstration, and activities that inspire people to “eat real”. Food Day celebration guests will have a chance to “ask a registered dietician” questions about health and nutrition, and sample healthy foods. Guests will also be able to learn about and sign up for CalFresh—a program that helps low-income people afford food.

Board Recognizes CalFresh Awareness Month

L-R: Supervisor Salud Carbajal, Bonnie Campbell and
Amy Lopez of the Foodbank, DSS Director Daniel Nielson,
Supervisor Janet Wolf, and DSS Deputy Director Maria Gardner.

In a resolution passed unanimously at their June 3 meeting, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors  proclaimed June as Santa Barbara County CalFresh Awareness Month. The resolution noted the tremendous impact of CalFresh—a program administered by the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services (DSS) that helps low-income households buy food—in reducing hunger in our community. The meeting was attended by representatives of both DSS and our anti-hunger community nonprofit partners, who help raise awareness and enrollment for CalFresh.