Santa Barbara County Foodbank launches weekend food distribution program

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara County Foodbank is starting a new community access pilot program to help families in need.

For those who work during the week, it’s not easy getting to the places where free food is available.

"We felt like some families struggle to make it to our distribution during the weekdays because of work so we wanted to give them another opportunity," said Gregg Hitch of the Santa Barbara County Foodbank.

So the foodbank decided to create a new opportunity on Saturdays.

"In the morning countywide. so we have a Saturday distribution every Saturday for families to come and get food and you know to make ends meet," said partner services manager Jamie Diggs of the Santa Barbara County Foodbank.

The food program is meant for working people and families as well as anyone who can’t come by on a weekday.

"My hope is that we hit that population that’s missing during the week and just to get the word out there to let families know that there is another time they can come if they can’t make it throughout the week," said Hitch.

Some of the food available includes spring produce like strawberries, potatoes, and cabbage.

Managers expect the foodbank weekend distribution to get busy as the demand for food remains high.

"The numbers have been sky high during the pandemic but now it seems like it’s getting a little bit lower but a lot of families are still i need assistance because they’re still not working. they’re still trying to get a job," said Diggs.

This weekend's food event will be at the American GI forum in Santa Maria and Franklin Elementary School in Santa Barbara.