Picnic in the Park will happen this summer, with the implementation of social distancing and other COVID-19 related safety procedures. There will be no physical activities, and lunches will be “Grab N’ Go” style, meaning lunches will be picked up, and then taken home to eat.

To find a location near you, please text “SUMMERFOOD” to 877-877.

Picnic in the Park is program hosted by the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County during school children’s summer break. The program provides free lunches to children Monday – Friday countywide. Everyone is welcome and there is no sign-up or registration process. Only children under the age of 18 may take a free lunch. For site locations and times, please see below. 

For many children who receive free and reduced-priced meals during the school year, summer can mean hunger.

Each summer, children wait for the last bell of the school year. Summer is an exciting time for children to enjoy playtime with friends, a week at camp, a family vacation, or time at the pool. But for many children who receive free and reduced-priced meals at school, summer can mean hunger.

Just as learning does not end when school lets out, neither does a child’s need for good nutrition. In fact, 84% of children in our county who receive free or reduced-priced lunches during the school year don’t receive any meal assistance during the summer, a time of critical brain development. That’s 34,000 children in our community.

In years without Covid-19 restrictions, Picnic in the Park offers free, healthy meals, fun physical activities and nutrition education opportunities to ensure that summer is fun for all kids in our county.

This year, we are giving away free nutrition education activity books!

Download your FREE Activity Book

Who is Served

All children ages 1 – 18, now at locations throughout the county.

How the Program Works

The Foodbank provides free nutritious meals to children in our county during the summer as part of the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Healthy summer meals are served at 16 locations countywide – Monday thru Friday for 11 weeks. There are no income requirements, and any child 18 and under is welcome to come and receive a free, delicious lunch every weekday this summer. We also offer activities, games, and nutrition education at our sites throughout the summer. There is no sign-up or registration process and meals are served on a first-come, first-served basis.

Picnic in the Park offers free, healthy meals, fun physical activities and nutrition education to ensure that summer is fun for all kids in our county. To find a summer lunch site near you, check out our list of sites above or text ‘SUMMERFOOD’ to 877-877 sponsored by No Kid Hungry, CAC and Santa Barbara Unified School District Food Services, or download the CA Meals for Kids app! 

Program Times, Dates and Locations

Location	Address	Meal start time	Meal end time
Carpinteria Middle School (June 15 – August 14)	5351 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria, CA	12:30pm	1:30pm
Canalino Elementary School (June 15-August 14)	1480 Linden Ave. Carpinteria, CA	12:30pm	1:30pm
Santa Barbara Public Library	40 E Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA	11:30am	12:30pm
Minami Park	600 W. Enos Dr. Santa Maria, CA	11:30am	12:30pm
Grogan Park	1155 West Rancho Verde Santa Maria, CA	12:00pm	1:00pm
Tunnell Park	1100 N. Palisade Dr Santa Maria, CA	11:30am	12:45pm
Arrellanes Jr. High School	1890 Sandalwood Dr. Santa Maria, CA	11:00am	12:30pm
St. Anthony Church	270 Helena St. Los Alamos, CA	11:30am	12:30pm
Solvang Elementary	565 Atterdag Rd. Solvang, CA	12:15pm	1:15pm

 

For additional Lompoc and Santa Barbara locations, please click here.*

For additional Santa Maria sites, please click here. *

*These sites are hosted by local school districts, not the Foodbank.

Picky eaters at home? Check out the menu ahead of time!

Help End Summer Hunger

Volunteers Needed!

Community volunteers manage and support individual park sites, handing out lunches, organizing food literacy training, and summer games. Click here to get involved. 

 

Thank you to our sponsors!