Nutritious lunches being offered all summer through the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – With school out, many students are in need of a healthy lunch, and that's just what the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County is serving up.

The summertime "Picnic in the Park" program is now underway county wide. It is available for kids age 18 and under.

When school is out during the summer months, many low income families who get a lunch at school won’t be able to receive a similar meal without this program. It fills the gap.

Most of the locations are at parks, but there's also a lunch site at the main downtown Santa Barbara library.

There are eight locations in the north county and three in the south county.

Food Bank of Santa Barbara County Digital Director Alanie Rossell, "the kids get to learn as they are eating their good meals. They have different activities our nutrition team does fun nutrition education focused activities."

The combination of various activities and a healthy lunch are a buffet of things to do and eat.

The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County has 11 sites countywide including at the main Santa Barbara library downtown.

Being around other kids is also said to be a way to encourage the children to try new foods.

Ebby Dark is a parent with three children and said, "my boys  are able to try a lot of different food that they  might not be so found of at home and presented at the library  especially with games and other things to do ."

The Food Bank hopes those who are coming out to the Picnic in the Park this week spread the word to others to join in for the summer to have good health and not have food costs at home hit so hard.

"Everybody's welcomed, the kids are able to come in with their families and get their meal and spend some time with each other an create some connections which is exciting  when you see the community coming together and uniting. Also the word of mouth, talking about picnic in the park, spreading it to more of our neighbors," said Rossell.

For more information go to: Picnic in the Park.