Bucket Brigade’s Growing Community Project takes root

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - A new effort to fight hunger throughout Santa Barbara County now has roots in Trinity Lutheran Church's Trinity Gardens. And, private gardens, county-wide.

"Thousands of families, thousands of children, men, women, grandparents, mothers, fathers are not getting enough to eat right now. Our neighbors need our help," said Abe Powell, Executive Director of the Bucket Brigade.

The Bucket Brigade Growing Community Project is a collaborative, all volunteer, humanitarian farming effort. The goal is to grow and donate fresh produce for Santa Barbara County's Disaster Feeding Plan. 

"A lot of people are looking at the edge of an economic cliff," said Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams. "Most haven't gone over the cliff yet but many are looking at the edge. More than 20,000 people in our area are out of work."

Both Williams and Powell stressed challenges linked to the unprecedented crisis Americans are enduring: the COVID-19 pandemic, historic wildfires throughout the western region, and rising unemployment. The impacts will continue well into 2021 and likely, longer.

Victory Garden with SB Bucket Brigade at Trinity Garden (Bucket Brigade)

"Just yesterday, I talked to Meals on Wheels and they told me they've seen a 78% increase in requests for senior food assistance this year alone," Powell said. "We are in the midst of a major food security and food resilience crisis in the making."

A spokeswoman with Trinity Gardens said more than 4,000 pounds of food was donated last year alone to community partners. The site boasts more than 100 species of trees and plants and normally, serves as a destination for local students.

Powell said this humanitarian garden collaboration is based on the Victory Garden campaigns of WWI and WWII.

For more information on how you can participate, click the following link: https://sbbucketbrigade.org