The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will offer free lunches to kids this summer via its Picnic in the Parks program, which aims to compensate for free and reduced-price school lunches while school’s out for summer.
The North County program will run at 10 park sites in Santa Maria and Orcutt on weekdays from June 19 through Aug. 4, and it’s on a first-come, first-served served basis for kids younger than 18, according to the Foodbank’s Monica Buenrosto.
“They’re going to have a whole meal,” Buenrosto told the Sun. “They’re going to have milk, fruit, vegetables, and a side of protein. It just goes with whatever’s on the menu for the day, but we need to make sure the balance is there for each child.”
Foodbank CEO Erik Talkin said in a press release that many people are surprised by how many families struggle to feed their kids during the summer months.
“During the school year, hungry children can rely on the free lunch and breakfast programs to get regular meals during the week, but when school lets out for the summer and the programs do not continue, these children face hunger,” Talkin said in the release. “No school equals no lunch.”
The Foodbank’s planning to tackle that problem.
Countywide, the Foodbank is expected to distribute 37,000 lunches to 3,255 children, according to the press release. But first, the Foodbank must raise $100,000 to cover costs of the program—a goal organizers hope to achieve by June 30.
Buenrosto said that in addition to free meals, the summer picnics would feature fun events for the kids, including games, enrichment activities, and exercise classes. There’s no income limit, and the picnics are slated to run for an hour midday. Exact times vary depending on location.
Picnic in the Park’s North County locations and times are as follows:
• Rice Park at 11 a.m.
• Minami Park at 11:10 a.m.
• Vet’s Memorial Park at 11:30 a.m.
• Grogan Park at noon.
• Russell Park at 12:10 p.m.
• Los Adobes de Maria at 11:40 p.m.
• Mariposa Townhouses at 12:15 p.m.
• Guadalupe Ranch Acres at 12:40 p.m.
• Riverview Apartments at 1 p.m.
The program will also feature mid-county locations at Los Alamos County Park at 11:20 a.m. and the Santa Barbara County Library in Santa Barbara at 11:30 a.m.
Buenrosto said the Foodbank is still seeking volunteers to host events. People interested in volunteering can learn more on the Foodbank’s website at foodbanksbc.org, and those who want to volunteer can do so online at endsummerhunger.org.
Staff Writer Brenna Swanston can be reached at bswanston@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 8-15, 2017.
