Local nonprofit donates 4,000 pounds of beef to Central Coast charities
ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – A local agricultural non-profit organization donated 4,000 pounds of beef on Monday to help feed people in need throughout the Central Coast.
The 37th District Buyers Coalition, a group formed in 2023 to purchase animal projects at the Santa Barbara County Fair, donated the meat to 13 different organizations at Spencer’s Fresh Market during the distribution.
“Today is our beef distribution, which is in partnership with Harris Ranch Beef Company, and we are donating 4,000 pounds of high quality hamburger here to local charities on the Central Coast,” said Renli Pope, 37th District Buyers Coalition. “This is a huge deal. Beef is the most expensive protein for these nonprofits to procure for their programs, and with this 4,000 pound donation that we’re doing, the retail value is almost $30,000.”
During the distribution, local agriculture students loaded up dozens of boxes of the ground beef into trucks, cars and vans, including one from Good Samaritan Shelter.
“It’s tremendous help,” said Vernon Cryer, Good Samaritan Shelter Program Manager) “The donation will add to the recipes and menus that we provide throughout the North County. It’s a tremendous help financially. It definitely helps offset the increased costs of other supplies and other food.”
The donation followed two other similar distributions the coalition held recently for pork and lamb meat.
In late July, the coalition donated 6,397 pounds of pork to several non-profits, including Meals that Connect, New Life Pantry, Good Samaritan Shelter, 5 Cities Homeless Coalition and Welcome Home Military Heroes.
Through community donations, coalition funds are directed towards the purchase of animal projects during the fair auction, helping ensure that students who apply for coalition help will potentially have their animal bought.
To qualify for coalition consideration, each junior exhibitor must submit at least five letters to potential buyers that serve as invitations to attend their livestock auction.
This year, the 37th District Buyers Coalition support 127 youth exhibitors at the Santa Barbara County Fair auction and purchased 26,000 pounds of protein.
For more information about the 37th District Buyers Coalition, click here to visit the official website.
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