Our Mission
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s mission is to end hunger and transform the health of Santa Barbara County through good nutrition.
A food bank is a non-profit organization working to eliminate hunger by providing food, education and other resources to a network of hunger-relief charities and their communities.
Getting from hunger to health requires understanding the difference between eating enough calories and choosing healthy foods. We are pushing beyond the traditional scope of a food bank by providing more than just food. With nutrition education, disaster preparedness, environmental sustainability and community resilience at the forefront of our mission, we are working to solve the underlying causes of hunger in Santa Barbara County.
Nutrition Education
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is committed to taking a negative thing – hunger – and through our combined community efforts transforming it into a positive thing – health. This is achieved with three ingredients, food, education and empowerment, which build food literacy: the ability to look after oneself with food through buying, cooking, and using food responsibly. Developing food literacy combats not only hunger but also malnutrition and obesity. Learn more about our nationally recognized continuum of nutrition programs that provide pre-school to elder education for families, children, and seniors.
Community Resilience
Through our partnerships with local non-profit organizations and combined with our nutrition education and disaster preparedness initiatives, we are working to improve the resilience of individuals and our entire community. The Food Action Plan addresses our local food system, sustainability, and the responsible use of food in our county to create a long-term roadmap to improve our economy, health, and foodshed. We distribute our food to other non-profits to share with their communities, ensuring we reach the broadest number of people seeking assistance and build a network of support.
Disaster Preparedness
Disaster can strike at any time, and being prepared is key to ensuring our community stays resilient. At the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, we integrate disaster preparedness into our core services by stocking emergency food supplies, coordinating with local partners, and providing essential resources when they’re needed most. Our new South County Sharehouse expands our current capacity to respond quickly, ensuring families have access to nutritious food during crises. Stay prepared—because a strong community starts with readiness!
Sustainability
At the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, sustainability is at the heart of our mission to nourish our community while protecting our planet. With the installation of composters at our Sharehouses, we’re reducing food waste by transforming organic material into nutrient-rich compost. Our solar panels help power operations with clean energy, lowering our carbon footprint. Through grocery rescue and excess produce rescue programs, such as Backyard Bounty, we recover and redistribute perfectly good food that might otherwise go to waste, ensuring it reaches those who need it most. Additionally, our food waste initiatives, including partnering with local farms to repurpose food scraps as animal feed, help create a full-circle approach to waste reduction. By integrating these efforts, we are not only feeding people today but building a more sustainable future for generations to come.
