The event will be hosted at the Goleta Valley Community Center, located at 5679 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117.
“Vitamin Angels is not only pleased to be giving the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County a supply of multivitamins for children and pregnant and nursing moms, but we love that we get to visit food pantries that distribute these multivitamins and meet the families that are being served by this partnership,” said Amy Steets, Senior Program Manager.
Children under five years old and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are eligible to receive a six-month supply of vitamins from Vitamin Angels free of charge.
“As a Santa Barbara native, it is a delight for me to work for a Santa Barbara based non-profit organization that can provide support to children and families in our own backyard,” said Ms. Steets.
Through the partnership Vitamin Angels has supplied the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County with over 150,000 doses of children’s multivitamins and nearly 35,000 doses of women’s prenatal vitamins.
This distribution is part of Vitamin Angels’ ongoing efforts in the United States to address childhood hidden hunger, undernourishment caused by the lack of access to food with the vitamins and minerals needed for proper physical and cognitive development. In 2012, Vitamin Angels partnered with 38 food banks and free clinics across the US, distributing over 25 million doses of children’s multivitamins and women’s prenatal vitamins, reaching close to 70,000 beneficiaries.
About The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County:
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County partners with schools in areas of high nutritional need to host their award-winning Healthy School Pantry program. This program distributes healthy food to families, provides practical food literacy and cooking training, and general health and exercise activities that take a holistic approach to improving the nutritional health of the school community.
About Vitamin Angels:
Vitamin Angels is dedicated to reducing child mortality worldwide by advancing availability, access and use of essential micronutrients, especially vitamin A, among at-risk populations. In 2012, Vitamin Angels reached nearly 27,000,000 children in 49 countries, including the US, with the vital nutrients they need as a foundation for good health. Vitamin Angels has received five consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator for Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency. To learn more, visit www.vitaminangels.org.
For more information about Healthy School Pantry, contact Kyli Gallington, Community Programs Manager, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County at, kgallington@foodbanksbc.org or call: (805) 967-5741 x108.
For more information about Vitamin Angels, contact: Natalie Hernandez, Event Coordinator, Vitamin Angels, at nhernandez@vitaminangels.org or call: (805) 564-8400