The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s Annual Turkey Drive concluded on Friday, but the opportunity to help neighbors in need continues.

Community members can participate in the new Virtual Food Drive, which can turn every $1 into $5, thanks to the Foodbank’s buying power.

With more than one in three households in Santa Barbara County unable to afford basic needs, the Foodbank’s services are crucial, especially during the winter months when many seasonal workers face unemployment or reduced hours.

Even though the Turkey Drive is ending, food donations are always welcome. Items can be dropped off year-round at the Foodbank’s North County or South County warehouses. (The new South County Sharehouse is not yet ready to accept food donations.)

Food drop-off locations are:

Santa Barbara: 4554 Hollister Ave., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday,
Santa Maria: 490 W. Foster Road, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.

To donate to the Virtual Food Drive, visit www.foodbanksbc.org/fooddrive.

The community is also invited to tour the new South County Sharehouse in Goleta. The cutting-edge facility is expected to transform how the Foodbank supports neighbors in need and strengthens the community’s resilience into the future.

The South County Sharehouse is designed to improve the way food flows from farm to table. By increasing capacity for fresh produce — up to 80,000 additional pounds per wee — and enhancing food safety and freshness, the Sharehouse ensures that families across the county have access to high-quality, nutritious food.

Sustainability is at the heart of the project: the facility is solar-powered, reducing emissions by 37,500 miles annually, and eliminating the need for daily trucking between North and South County.

“We are so excited to open the doors to this incredible new space,” said Greg Mora, director of Development at the Foodbank. “The Sharehouse represents a giant leap forward for our ability to serve the community.

“It’s not just a warehouse; it’s a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together to care for one another.”

Sharehouse tours are free; tour times on Wednesday, Dec. 6 are 11:30 am. and noon-1 p.m. To sign up, visit www.foodbanksbc.org/tours.

For more information, visit www.foodbanksbc.org.