The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is experiencing a critical shortage in turkey donations, and may not hit its goal of 4,000 turkeys before the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 23, the Foodbank said in a release. The Foodbank initiated its annual Turkey Drive on Nov. 1, however the level of contributions has not met the expectations and the need is outpacing donations with only 252 birds and six days left before Thanksgiving. The Foodbank has served over 230,000 unduplicated individuals this year — a 40% increase from last year — as low-income families feel the pressure of increased food and gas prices, inflation as a whole, the expiration of pandemic-related food programs and a lack of affordable housing and affordable childcare.
