School Zone

Posted on June 10, 2021
| 9:12 a.m.

Goleta Union School District Sets Summer Table for Kids With Free Organic Groceries

Source: Kim Leung for Goleta Union School District

The Goleta Union School District (GUSD) will continue to provide food access and nutrition for children during the summer break with weekly organic farm boxes through USDA’s summer food service program (while supplies last).

The district’s food services program will be partnering with Farm Cart Organics to provide boxes containing fresh, local, seasonal produce, organic bread, and organic eggs for six weeks. There will also be ready-to-heat up meals from UCSB Dining and Gogo squeeZ, rice and peanut butter.

The program is free for anyone age 18 or younger (one box per family). The partnership is a step in fighting food inequities and ensuring access to nutrition and health.

“Putting good food on the table shouldn’t be a worry on any parent’s plate. As families recover from the pandemic, this partnership allows the families in our community to have nourishment this summer,” said Kim Leung, Food Services director at GUSD.

The program is available at GUSD central office, 401 N. Fairview Ave., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesdays June 23, 30 and July 7, 14, 21, 28.

"We are so happy to be able to provide fresh organic produce to the families at Goleta Union School District. Everyone deserves access to fresh, wholesome food. We are looking forward to this partnership,” said Katie Lesh, founder Farm Cart Organics.

Foodbank’s Picnic in the Park and Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) summer meal programs are also summer food service sites. Participants can opt in for only one of the programs with one of the agencies.

Those who select Goleta's organic grocery program will agree that they are not participating in Picnic in the Park or SBUSD Grab and Go meals. Participants are asked not go to multiple summer food service sites as doing so jeopardizes program integrity, and risks the ability to continue these programs.

Follow the district’s food services program on Instagram @gusdfood for updates and information. Signups are in the bio of the Instagram page. Signups does not guarantee a box, but helps the district forecast appropriately.

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