Hello everyone!

Our names are Ella and Teya! And we have been friends since kindergarten. This summer, we are embarking on a two week backpacking trip around Lake Tahoe and we’re hoping to raise money for the Santa Barbara Food Bank along the way.

We began adventuring together in sixth grade (11/12 years old) and we've recently accomplished backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail from Two Harbors to Avalon over the span of four days. Through this expedition we were reminded of the joys of exploring nature at its wildest and looking back fondly on this experience we are excited to enrich ourselves once again with the wonders of nature surrounding Tahoe Lake.

The Tahoe Rim Trail (T.R.T) spans across two states and is 175 miles roundtrip. We will be joined by two of our close friends and together we’ll experience the high altitudes of the Sierra Nevadas along with the additional major elevation gain and losses associated with the route.

Our goal is to not only complete the T.R.T, but to simultaneously assist the Santa Barbara Food Bank in fighting the world’s second largest problem, hunger.

Along with canned goods, the Santa Barbara Food Bank sources their produce from local farmers, making almost half of the food they provide fresh produce! This simple aspect is an especially unique characteristic of why supporting the Santa Barbara Food Bank is a necessity to helping our communities' roots hold strong.

The Foodbank is currently facing over $1.5 million in funding cuts making your support that much more important. If you donate 30 dollars, the Food Bank can turn it into 150 dollars worth of food for the 1 in 3 people living in Santa Barbara County relying on them. Every donation can be used to make a great impact. Our goal is to raise $5,000. This goal allows the Foodbank to provide $25,000! worth of food for people of all ages in Santa Barbara County!

Even if you can't personally donate, you can still help by sharing our message to friends, family and coworkers. Your action will one way or another support a family in need.

With gratitude,

Teya and Ella