A donation drive will be held at Santa Barbara’s Community Arts Workshop (CAW) on Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15, in an effort to support individuals and families who have been dealing with uncertainty surrounding federal immigration enforcement and food insecurity following the recent changes to SNAP benefits.
The donation drive was organized by Alex Ramirez, founder of Desmadre Media and Manager of Goodland Tattoo, who has used his business and social media platforms to bring together support and supplies for Central Coast families with several community fundraising events over the past year.
Ramirez says the most recent drive was sparked by the “confusion and hardship” community members have faced following the back-and-forth over SNAP benefits. Some were first told their benefits would be unavailable before receiving a portion of funds and then being told they must return the benefits. This uncertainty left many Central Coast families feeling “scared, unsupported, and unsure how to keep food on the table.”…