Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade

The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade began 2023 with a winter storm deployment to prepare for and respond to a statewide flooding emergency. 363 volunteers responded to community requests for assistance at 46 sites across Santa Barbara County. 11 Bucket Brigade Academy-trained student Team Leaders successfully led disaster prevention and relief efforts at 12 sites in the first real-world test of the Academy leadership training system in response to a natural disaster.Following the completion of the food relief effort, the Bucket Brigade continued to build its programs that develop volunteer deployment and Continued on Schedule Oleadership capacity through innovative community restoration projects in Santa Barbara County. At the Bucket Brigade Academy, 39 student leaders completed 2,280 hours of training and 51 ASHI/SOLO first-aid certifications were awarded. A two-acre watershed ecosystem restoration was completed at The Bucket Brigade Humanitarian Garden project. 1.3 miles of new safe-routes-to-school trails were constructed to restore and improve pedestrian access and improve community safety through the CSAC Challenge Award-winning Walk Montecito Project.Work began on the Humanitarian Farm Project to teach volunteers and student leaders urban organic farming for the purpose of growing healthy produce to support local food-aid programs and to strengthen local food system resilience.