KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News-Backcountry Horsemen Ride to Foodbank’s Rescue

Backcountry Horsemen Ride to Foodbank’s Rescue

12.18.09

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - They spend time helping protect and restore the Central Coast backcountry.

But the Los Padres Unit of the Backcountry Horsemen of California took time out to rustle up much needed help for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

"For our Christmas celebration we asked everybody to bring a food item, non-perishable food item so we could help out with that", says Backcountry Horsemen member Bill Chaides.

The Horsemen packed up nearly 250 pounds of donated food and delivered it on horseback, along with some mules and a burro, to the Foodbank's warehouse near Santa Maria.

"Such a creative way, and it's never too late to hold a food drive and it's a wonderful way as well", says Claudia Ruiz of the Foodbank who helped organize the food drive.

The Backcountry Horsemen Los Padres Unit works with the Forest Service and other public land agencies to help restore burn areas, repair trails and other work by packing in food and supplies to inaccessible areas of the front and backcountry.

"This year we got over two thousand hours of volunteer work with the Forest Service", Chaides says, "and over 9,000 miles in transportation driving to and from projects."

It's not often the Foodbank gets help on horseback.

But with donations down and the need growing they'll take it anyway they can get it.

"We really need food and funds", says the Foodbank's Kerry Main Aller, "the great thing about food drives is its immediate, the food is sorted, it's out the door but those funds help us through those lean months that are coming ahead."

Main Aller says the changing face of hunger in the community can be seen by those who have been regular donors to the Foodbank in years past but now are recipients.