Picnic in the Park to offer lunch daily during summer
By Santa Ynez Valley Star Staff · Tue Mar 17 2020
Staff Report
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will host the children’s summer lunch program, Picnic in the Park, offering free healthy lunches for kids 18 and under Monday through Friday from June 8 to August 7 (June 16 to August 14 in Carpinteria) at 10 locations countywide. Due to Covid-19 safety recommendations, lunches will be offered “Grab & Go”-style, for pickup and eating off-site.
Lunches are served on a first-come first-served basis as part of the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program and there are no income requirements to participate. All children under the age of 18 are encouraged to attend. (See below for details on locations and times.)
Community members who wish to provide meals to children facing hunger during the summer may donate and sign up to volunteer at www.FoodbankSBC.org.
Thanks to the Foodbank’s partnership with No Kid Hungry, information about all locations where children can receive free lunch this summer may be found by texting “SUMMERFOOD” to 877-877 and entering an address to find the nearest lunch locations. Details are also available at the app CA Meals for Kids and at foodbanksbc.org.
Picnic in the Park locations —at easily accessible parks, libraries and churches — are operated by volunteers who provide lunches and help ensure kids are protected from community transmission of coronavirus through the use of sanitizer, physical distancing and the use of PPE among adults and volunteers.
Volunteers are needed to serve lunches in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older and commit to either an entire week or one day weekly for two hours around noontime. More details about volunteering can be found below.
The Foodbank is working this year with Revolution Foods to provide fresh, plant-rich, kid-friendly lunches prepared with fresh ingredients. Lunches include whole fruits, veggies and milk daily. Sample entrées include chicken picnic salad, turkey wraps, flatbread pizza and sliders.
Picnic in the Park locations in the South County include: