People Helping People’s annual Thanksgiving Food Distribution is a team effort with 66 students, teachers, staff, and new and seasoned volunteers uniting to share the bounty of the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys with the most vulnerable.
Twenty fourth-grade students from Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy, led by teacher Bridget Morrell, learned first-hand about giving by helping organize the can goods donated by public and private schools throughout the valley, and bingo players at the Chumash Casino Resort.
Since it is no small matter to procure hundreds of turkeys at this time of year, El Rancho Market helped PHP access and temporarily store 175 turkeys.
Veggie Rescue donated their refrigerated truck to transport the turkeys to Mission Santa Ines where they were distributed.
PHP invested $7,250 of donor funds to buy the turkeys, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and a treat for many families Maseca (corn masa flour), to ensure people have what they need for a holiday meal.
Chef Daisy and Greg Ryan of Feed the Valley, Jake Francis of the Valley Piggery, and Na Na Thai of Buellton prepared the nutritious meals that PHP delivered to homebound seniors and the disabled along with their groceries.
“Volunteers are also often recipients” of food assistance and they show their gratitude by working hard at these distributions, according to Jenifer Sanregret, PHP director of philanthropy and community engagement.
No one is turned away empty-handed, but to receive the full complement of foods available households must go through certification that they live, work, or go to school in the valley, PHP said.
That brings them into the PHP system, so they can be connected with services that will lead to greater stability and self-sufficiency.
“People don’t realize that the fastest growing population we serve is seniors facing homelessness and food insecurity,” said Calisse Courtney, COO at PHP. “They live on Social Security, so they make just too much to qualify for MediCal, but they can’t afford the cost of living in the Santa Ynez Valley.
“It’s a nightmare, a total nightmare.”
With the recent insecurity of federal food benefits, and immigration raids throughout Santa Barbara County, PHP was unsure whether the line for food would be shorter than usual, but hundreds of people filled the walkway in front of the mission, with some arriving hours before the distribution began.
Of the 191 households served, only 10% receive CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, and only 25% receive MediCal benefits.
“The cost of living has grown far beyond wages and fixed incomes, creating challenges for many in our valley. But what has never wavered is the generosity and compassion of this community,” said Erica Jane Flores, CEO at PHP.
“People Helping People is the valley’s safety net, and we do not do this work alone.” Flores said.
These local seniors, mothers with babies, and working families were able to leave the PHP Distribution Center with a box full of fresh vegetables, a turkey, and some hope.
It’s a respite from the worry that haunts people facing food insecurity week after week and offers a much-appreciated break for the Thanksgiving holiday.
To contribute to the December Holiday Food Distribution, send a donation to Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People, 545 N. Alisal Road, Solvang, CA 93463 or call 805-686-0295.