Grace Food Pantry
Mission Statement
The Grace Food Pantry provides food to under resourced people living in southern Santa Barbara County. Grace Food Pantry is a collaboration of several organizations who see food as a way to extend people a hand-up. It strives to provide the best nutrition available with the donations it receives.
A Brief History
Past: Grace Lutheran Church began a food distribution program for the under resourced about 50 years ago. It was known as the Lutheran Saturday Food Pantry. Through the years, the Saturday distribution grew.- Present: When Grace Lutheran Church closed the pantry had added partners and was now operating three Saturdays a month. The name was changed to Grace Food Pantry (GFP) to remember the Grace Lutheran Church legacy.
- Future: The GFP is currently located at a temporary site (Trinity Lutheran Church) while it waits for the completion of its new permanent home in the community center at Grace Village opens (possibly as soon as February 2018).
Food Pantry Goals
To provide healthy and nutritional foods (within the constraints of the available financial resources).- Purchase items not available from regular food pantry/bank suppliers to supplement clients basic food needs.
- Establish a regular food resource for clients who lack access to cooking facilities.
- Ultimately, we hope to develop the resources to expand distribution to a fourth Saturday each month.
Ongoing Food Pantry Needs – Volunteer Support
- Friday delivery: usually 1 to 2 hours
- Saturday distribution: usually 2 to 3 hours
- if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Deacon Martha Santrizos (zosmar@aol.com) or Carole Wilson (cawilson7@cox.net).
Ongoing Food Pantry Needs – Financial Support
- The Grace Food Pantry currently has three main financial partners: Trinity Lutheran Church, Christ Lutheran Church, and Grace Housing Inc. (the legacy of funding created when Grace Lutheran Closed). It is only through the generosity of individuals and other grants that the ministry to end hunger in our city moves forward.
- Donations can be sent to:
Grace Food Pantry
909 N. La Cumbre Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
- Online donations can be made by clicking the button below and selecting “Food Pantry” from the list of Outreach Ministries:
If you have other questions about the pantry, feel free to email the Grace Food Pantry Coordinator, Deacon Martha Santrizos, at zosmar@aol.com.
