Special delivery Thanksgiving meals are still being served up at the United Boys & Girls Club

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County is serving up Thanksgiving meals, but it won't be in the traditional community dinner settings.

Instead the organization is preparing dinners for its members to pick up.

The coordinated effort starts with contact between a local club and its members with the highest needs. The staff will distribute the dinner box prepared by Country Catering in Goleta and pickup is set for Tuesday evening.

Traditionally, the club dinner has been Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, in person.

Due to the coronavirus, the even could not be held. The boxes of dinners will, however, feed hundreds of club members.

Each of the clubs from Carpinteria, Downtown Santa Barbara, Westside Santa Barbara, Goleta, Solvang, Buellton and Lompoc will have dinners prepared and ready for members on their individual lists.

Michael Baker
United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County CEO Michael Baker said he and the sponsors wanted members " to have a nice  Thanksgiving meal."    

The plan will also keep everyone safe when it comes to the pickup. "Parents or legal guardians will pull up and we will hand them (the boxes) into their car they will not be going into the facility," he said.

One a typical year over 1500 meals would have been served in total at the locations.

This effort will address families with the most needs and calls keep coming in. Baker said just this morning "a parent  was saying how desperate they were to get food for Thanksgiving  and hoping we were giving food out. "

For more information go to: United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County