Amid mounting pressures from inflation, housing costs, and healthcare expenses, a growing number of Santa Barbara County residents are struggling to consistently access nutritious food, according to Organic Soup Kitchen.
The nonprofit, founded in 2009, provides medically tailored “SoupMeals” to low-income seniors, cancer patients, and chronically ill residents across the county.
For vulnerable populations, the stakes are high. More than 25,000 people are currently living with cancer in Santa Barbara County, and research shows up to 85% of cancer patients are at risk of malnutrition during treatment. Among low-income cancer patients, one in two experiences food insecurity.
“Nutrition is foundational to health,” said Anthony Corroccio, founder and executive director of Organic Soup Kitchen. “We are seeing more community members who are struggling not only to afford food, but to afford the quality nutrition their bodies need to heal and recover.”
Emerging national research underscores the impact of medically tailored meals on health outcomes. Studies presented through Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy indicate such programs may reduce food insecurity, improve dietary intake, support mental health, and help lower healthcare costs tied to malnutrition and treatment complications.
Organic Soup Kitchen operates multiple programs countywide, including its CenCal Medically Tailored Meals Program and its Nutrition and Food Security Program, which provides weekly plant-based SoupMeals to qualifying low-income residents. Due to rising demand, parts of the program currently have a waiting list.
Community members can help by donating, volunteering, or purchasing soups directly from the organization’s Distribution Center, with proceeds supporting medically tailored meals for residents in need.
Organic Soup Kitchen Distribution Center
126 E. Haley St., Suite A4
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Phone: (805) 364-2790
To donate or learn more: https://organicsoupkitchen.org/hero
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