Starting in 1983, our Older Adult Nutrition Program (formerly “Brown Bag Program”) served low-income seniors on fixed incomes who struggle with housing, health care and other costs. In various distribution locations throughout the county, the Foodbank provided a grocery bag of nutritious staple foods, including high-protein items, canned soups, pasta, cereal, eggs, bread and seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables to seniors twice a month.

In January 2021, the Older Adult Nutrition Program transitioned to a home delivery service  for low-income seniors who are homebound and/or have no social support to pick up food on their behalf.  The program continues to provide two bags of groceries and fresh produce each month to seniors facing food insecurity in Santa Barbara County. The program is designed to supplement food budgets and allow seniors to maintain a healthy, independent lifestyle.

In addition to home deliveries, the Older Adult Nutrition Program now features:

  • Bi-weekly distributions of nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods across 20 locations
  • Bilingual nutrition education and health resources
  • Medically-tailored recipes specific to older adults’ needs
  • A new pilot program offering frozen, medically-tailored prepared meals

To become a participant in the program, please fill out the application at the bottom of the page or reach out to the contacts listed below.

For more information about this program, please contact the following:

North County (Santa Maria, Lompoc, Orcutt, Guadalupe, Santa Ynez, Buellton, Los Alamos, Solvang, New Cuyama):
Lupe Cortes ncoan@foodbanksbc.zendesk.com

South County (Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria):
Brianda Jimenez scoan@foodbanksbc.zendesk.com

Who We Serve

More than a thousand very low-income older people in Santa Barbara County struggle to pay for housing, health care and basic needs on fixed incomes. The average Older Adult Nutrition recipient is a 75-year-old woman living on less than $900 a month. The Older Adult Nutrition home delivery program serves senior participants, who have a doctor’s note verifying that they cannot reach a food distribution location independently, receive groceries and produce by home delivery.

Program Partners

  • Golden Village Inn
  • Housing Authority County of Santa Barbara
  • Community Health Centers
  • Dick Deweese Senior Community Center
  • Santa Maria Foursquare Church
  • Community Partners in Caring
  • Orcutt Presbyterian Church
  • Union Plaza
  • Casa Grande
  • Housing Authority City of Santa Barbara
  • Pilgrim Terrace
  • Vincents- Villa Caridad

More Resources for Seniors

Thanks to ElderImpact.org and Baylor University for sharing these resources.