We are so fortunate to live in the state of California, the breadbasket of America, with ample food resources. And we are doubly lucky to live in an affluent community like Santa Barbara where there seems to be food available by picking up your cell phone.
But not everyone in this community can get access to all of these food resources and not all of our farmers can get access to sell their food directly to the people, as they primarily served the now shuttered restaurants.
So I am putting together the limited resources I know about and asking if you can all help feed the people.
COLLEEN PARENT BEALL
805.895.5881
colbeall@gmail.com
DRE: 01201456
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL FARMERS
& RESTAURANTS
We are all aware of the plight of our local restaurants and those farmers that supply their produce to those restaurants. There is an excellent supply of restaurant grade food supplies and farm fresh produce throughout the area. Some of my favorites are:
FOODBANK
One of our longest standing providers and distributors of food to the needy in this County is the Foodbank. They are the largest and best organized charity and they are massively stepping up their efforts to meet the increasing needs, see recent coverage.
You can help by: Donating or Volunteering.
The Foodbank also runs the program that allows you to donate the fruit and crops from your own yards to be distributed to the needy, instead of rotting on the ground or trees. The protocol for making such donations is here: Backyard bounty
MEALS ON WHEELS
Another backbone of our community food program is Meals on Wheels which has been delivering prepared hot meals to the elderly and those in need for decades. You can donate to this great organization which is serving the most vulnerable in our community or volunteer.
EVERY TABLE
Currently based in Los Angeles and soon to open in Santa Barbara, EveryTable, has become a key player in making, delivering and providing food to the needy. Their model is to create healthy pre-packed meals at very affordable prices on a large scale. Since the coronavirus crisis they have pivoted from Smartfridge locations to chef made delivery meals. They have served thousands of meals upon request to the suddenly unemployed, the high risk populations and those living in the food deserts of Los Angeles. Read more about their mission.
EveryTable was just featured in the Los Angeles Times, (read it here), Jacquile Knight, Beyonce’s choreographer, donated thousands of meals to out of work dancers.
Maybe there is a group or organization that you would like to feed. Donate meals from EveryTable.
FEEDING AMERICA
On a national scale, I recommend Feeding America.
We are all in this together.
We will get through this together.
This will not last forever.