Food

Food security is a major concern for the families and students of Isla Vista. This subsection  will detail the food pantries, distributions, reoccurring free meals, and other food services open to Isla Vista residents, both within Isla Vista and in the greater Santa Barbara county.

CalFresh of Santa Barbara County (Food Stamps, SNAP)

Office Location: 234 Camino Del Remedio, Santa Barbara, CA
Administered by: The County of Santa Barbara
Open to: Households with income between 130% and 200% of the Federal
Poverty Level.

The CalFresh Program, formerly known as Food Stamps and federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), can add to your food budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.  CalFresh is a supplemental program that helps limited-income individuals and families buy the food they need in order to stay healthy. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that works like a bank debit card, and is accepted at grocery stores, markets, and some farmer’s markets.
Phone No: 805-681-4401
Website: CalFresh Santa Barbara
Contact No: 1-877-847-3663
Website: http://www.calfresh.ca.gov

Cafe Picasso

Café Picasso, a collaborative effort by St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and UCSB IDEAS (Improving Dreams, Equality, Access, and Success), is a hospitality and food pantry for students run by students.

6586 Picasso Rd. Isla Vista, CA 93117
Contact No: 805-968-2712
Website: http://www.saintmikesucsb.org/calendar/475-café-picasso-2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CafePicasso/

FLOWER (Fresh, Local Organic Within Everyone’s Reach)

Office Location: 6575 Seville Rd. Isla Vista, CA
Administered by: Isla Vista Food Cooperative

The FLOWER program is the umbrella for all of the education, outreach, services, resources and programs that the Isla Vista Food Cooperative has been developing through this past year in order to foster a culture of support and solutions, oriented toward food access
both within the store and wider community.

Website: Isla Vista Food Cooperative FLOWER

Food Not Bombs

Food Not Bombs provide free dinners every Sunday at 5pm at Little Acorn Park.

901 El Embarcadero Isla Vista, CA 93117
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fnbiv/

Isla Vista Youth Projects Food Distribution

The first Thursday of every month from 3:30-5:30pm, the Isla Vista Youth Projects hosts a food distribution at the Isla Vista Elementary School.

6875 El Colegio Rd., Isla Vista, CA 93117
Contact Email: luannm@ivyp.org
Contact No: 805-968-0488
Website: http://www.ivyp.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isla-Vista-Youth-Projects/328070217216905

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Office Location: 234 Camino Del Remedio, Santa Barbara, CA
Administered by: Schools in the County of Santa Barbara
Open to: Households with income between 130% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Phone No: 805-681-4401
Website: National School Lunch Program

 Santa Barbara Hillel

Santa Barbara Hillel provides community members with giveaway boxes that contain a variety of food choices every Monday at 3:00pm.

781 Embarcadero Del Mar. Isla Vista, CA
Contact No: 805-968-1280
Website: http://santabarbara.hillel.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SantaBarbaraHillel/

St. Mark’s University Parish

St. Mark’s Catholic Charities Grocery Program has giveaway food boxes for community members every Thursday 2pm.

6550 Picasso Rd. Isla Vista, CA.  
Contact No: 805-968-1079
Website: http://saint-marks.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Marks-Catholic-Church/1445037965745058

St. Michael’s University Church

St. Michael’s University Church provides dinner on Mondays at 5pm for community members.

6586 Picasso Rd. Isla Vista, CA
Contact Email: saintmikesucsb@gmail.com
Contact No: 805-968-2712
Website: http://www.saintmikesucsb.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Michaels-University-Church/259089754121244

United Methodist Church

United Methodist Church has weekly sit-down dinners on Wednesdays at 5pm for community members.

892 Camino Del Sur, Isla Vista, CA.
Contact Email: islavistaumc@gmail.com
Contact No: 717-304-9215
Website: http://islavistamethodist.com/

Clothing

Isla Vista Free Box

The Free Box is an open exchange item box located at the corner of Seville Road and Embarcadero Del Mar, in front of the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District building. Clothing, shoes, and other items are left behind by people who no longer need them, and the items are free to pick up by anyone who needs or wants them.

961 Embarcadero Del Mar Isla Vista, CA 93117
Contact Email: rgould@ivparks.org
Contact No: 805-968-2017
Website: http://www.ivparks.org

More Food and Clothing Resources

Associated Students Food Bank, UCSB
Catholic Charities IV
Food For Angels Isla Vista
Iglesia Bautista El Calvario de Santa Barbara
Pura Vida Church of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Community Development Center
St. Brigid Fellowship
The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Unity Shoppe