Since COVID-19 reached Santa Barbara County, our communities have faced incredible challenges. For our most vulnerable community members, the COVID-19 crisis has been devastating. The Santa Barbara Foundation along with the COVID-19 Joint Response Effort is working to provide support for our neighbors and the nonprofits that serve them during this extremely difficult time. This special edition of our County Connections Report explores responses to the COVID-19 crisis in Santa Barbara County and shares how you can help those most in need.
“A handshake, a hug, or having close friends over for dinner – a few things we perhaps took for granted because we couldn’t imagine life without them before COVID-19 hit our community. As I write to you from the confines of my home, I feel the heaviness that is the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected our communities.” Read the full letter from SBF’s President & CEO, Jacqueline M. Carrera.
Our nonprofit sector is working long hours to meet community needs during this incredibly challenging time. To avoid burdening our grant recipients further with interview requests, we are providing the following stories of several nonprofit response efforts. We hope to showcase more of our nonprofits’ incredible work through additional articles on our website at a later date.
The Community Wellness Team (CWT) is a collaboration of 13 health agencies working together to support the wellness of all Santa Barbara County residents in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Many people are dealing with significant stress, anxiety, and isolation, and the CWT is offering resources, support, and virtual connection for those in need.
The Boys & Girls Clubs Mid-Central Coast quickly developed a COVID-19 Operations Plan in response to the crisis impacting California’s Central Coast. Learn about their efforts to organize virtual youth programming, develop partnerships to serve children and families in need, and more.
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is needed now more than ever, and fortunately, it has spent years planning for this moment. As our county began to feel the impact of COVID-19 in mid-March, the Foodbank jumped into action by activating it’s recently published Disaster Feeding Plan, expanding its services, and forging new partnerships.
Today, Girls Rock Santa Barbara is offering over 100 classes for co-ed youth worldwide (4th through 12th grade), and hopes to launch a partnership with a major online teaching platform very soon. Learn about how they pivoted from their traditional services to completely virtual youth development programming.
Our senior community is extremely vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and older individuals are more likely to experience life-threatening symptoms. Fortunately, the Organic Soup Kitchen is stepping up to deliver fresh, nutritious soups to as many seniors as they can during this difficult time.
Since partnering with the Foodbank in mid-March, the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County has been regularly distributing food at four of its club locations, with help from a legion of dedicated volunteers. Learn about how they acted quickly and nimbly to feed kids in need.
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted our community and the nonprofit sector in Santa Barbara County. The COVID-19 response grant program is a part of the COVID-19 Joint Response Effort for Santa Barbara County and supports organizations that are actively engaging in COVID-19 assistance efforts.
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