FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
Picnic in the Park is a summer lunch program that encourages a healthy lifestyle for children by offering free, nutritious meals and fun, educational games
When summer vacation begins and school ends for the year, the distribution of school lunches ends as well. Children who rely on school lunch programs to fuel their growing bodies become hungry or may find cheap, processed, and sugary foods to eat. Without free or reduced price school lunches, these children don’t meet their daily nutritional requirements.
The Picnic in the Park program provides free nutritious meals, Monday through Friday, to all children in the county during the summer as part of the USDA Summer Food Service Program. There are no income requirements to participate in the program, and all children and teens under the age of 18 are encouraged to attend. All of the program sites, which are generally at easy to access parks, housing facilities, and neighborhood centers, are managed by volunteers and groups who serve lunches and organize food literacy training and summer games. As an alternative to children going hungry or eating highly processed foods, Picnic in the Park ensures that children can access nutritious lunches in educational and interactive environments during the summer months.
We invite all children to visit the sites listed below to enjoy delicious food and safe, educational activities with friends!
About the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
The Foodbank is the largest hunger-relief and nutrition organization in the county, serving a network of more than 300 member agencies and programs countywide. In 2012, the Foodbank distributed more than 8.5 million meals, feeding 102,000 individuals. The programs receiving food from the Foodbank include food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school and senior feeding programs. Visit www.foodbanksbc.org to find out more.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identify, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complain Form, found online at or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
South County Picnic in the Park Sites:
Estero Park, Isla Vista
889 Camino del Sur, Isla Vista
June 9 – Aug. 21, 2014
Lunch 12:30pm – 1:15pm, M-Th
Storke Ranch Apartments, Goleta
6822 Phelps Rd., Goleta
June 9 – Aug. 22, 2014
Lunch 12:00pm – 12:45pm, M-F
North County Picnic in the Park Sites:
Los Alamos County Park, Los Alamos
500 Drum Canyon Rd., Los Alamos
June 30 – Aug. 1, 2014
Lunch 11am – 12pm, M-F
Los Adobes de Maria I, Santa Maria
1026 W. Boone St., Santa Maria
June 12 – Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm, M-F
Los Adobes de Maria II, Santa Maria
1138 W. Boone St., Santa Maria
June 12 – Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm, M-F
Santa Maria Public Library, Santa Maria
420 S. Broadway, Santa Maria
June 16 – Aug. 4, 2014
Lunch 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Mondays only
Mid County Picnic in the Park Sites:
Anderson Recreation Center, Lompoc
125 W. Walnut Ave, Lompoc
June 16 -Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 12:30pm -1:00pm, M-F
Coast Valley SATC, Lompoc
133 N. F St., Lompoc
June 16 – Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 2:00pm – 3:00pm, M-F
Santa Barbara Public Library, Santa Barbara
40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara
June 11 – Aug. 20, 2014
Lunch 11:00am – 12:00pm, Wednesdays only
Villa de La Esperanza Apartments, Goleta
131 S. Kellogg Ave, Goleta
June 9 – Aug. 22, 2014
Lunch 12:30pm – 1:30pm, M-F
Veterans Memorial Park, Santa Maria
545 Pine St., Santa Maria
June 12 – Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 12:30pm – 1:30pm, M-F
Grogan Park, Santa Maria
1155 W. Rancho Verde, Santa Maria
June 12 – Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 1:00pm – 2:30 pm, M-F
Sanchez Elementary, Santa Maria
804 Liberty St., Santa Maria
June 16 – July 14, 2014
Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm, M-F
Fairlawn Elementary, Santa Maria
120 Mary Dr., Santa Maria
June 16 – July 14, 2014
Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm, M-F
YMCA, La Honda Elementary School, Lompoc
1213 North A St., Lompoc
June 16 – Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm, M-F
United Boys & Girls Club of Lompoc, Lompoc
1025 W Ocean Ave, Lompoc
June 16 – Aug. 9, 2014
Lunch 12:00pm – 1:30pm, M-F