Allan Hancock College Sponsors SEEAG Santa Barbara County Child Wellness Initiative

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - March 10, 2021 - PRLog -- Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria is sponsoring Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture's (SEEAG) "Santa Barbara County Child Wellness Initiative" at its highest $10,000 "Rain Maker" level.

The program educates, inspires and empowers children to eat healthy by adding locally grown Santa Barbara fruits and vegetables to their diet to help ward off childhood obesity that could lead to diabetes.

The goal is to raise $40,000 that will go toward the purchase of a colorful, vegetable-themed Farm Fresh Mobile Classroom van that will travel to Santa Barbara County schools as part of SEEAG's Child Wellness Initiative.

Santa Maria berry growers Rancho Laguna Farms and Titan Frozen Fruit each contributed $3,500 toward the van.

"Agriculture is the heart of Northern Santa Barbara County and a vital part of our career education programs at Allan Hancock College," says Allan Hancock College Superintendent/President Kevin Walthers, Ph.D. "We are happy to help SEEAG continue its important mission of educating young students in our community about local agriculture and healthy eating."

The Child Wellness Initiative began in Santa Barbara County this year. The free program was first introduced in 2017 in Ventura County. More than 60 schools and 8,000 third-grade students participate each year. Currently, the wellness program is held through Zoom. Many of the participating schools are designated Title 1 (50 percent or more of their students are enrolled in free or reduced  lunch programs).

SEEAG is holding a live online auction March 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to raise additional funds for the Farm Fresh van and the Wellness Initiative. An online silent auction will take place March 23 to March 25. Auction items include farm-to-table dinners, weekend get-aways, wine tastings, restaurant and winery gift cards and gift baskets.

Auctioneer Pete Melero will conduct the live auction from Allan Hancock College's Santa Maria campus. Dr. Walthers will be the emcee. Donations for the silent and live auctions are being accepted. Silent auction sign-ups are free. Live auction participation is $15. For $50, participants receive a bottle of wine from Riverbench Vineyard & Winery delivered to the ticketholder's location (must be age 21 or older).

To sign up to participate for the silent and live auctions or to make an auction item donation, go to https://www.seeag.org/liveauction.