Montecito Gourmet, One805 launch partnership for Santa Barbara first responders

Montecito Gourmet and One805 are teaming up to direct proceeds from select coffee and wine sales to mental wellness and equipment grants for Santa Barbara County first responders. The partnership builds on both organizations’ ties to the 2018 Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow and will be highlighted at One805 fundraising concerts later this month.

Why it matters: - The partnership creates a year-round funding stream for mental wellness and emergency preparedness support for Santa Barbara County Fire, Police and Sheriff personnel. - Proceeds from everyday purchases at Montecito Gourmet will help fund services for first responders and their families. - The collaboration ties consumer sales directly to long-term support for agencies that respond to crises across the county.

What happened: - Montecito Gourmet and One805 announced a strategic partnership on Aug. 19, 2026. - Montecito Gourmet, formerly The Village Cheese and Wine Store, will direct proceeds from select offerings to One805 programs. - The partnership centers on Montecito Gourmet’s small-batch Montecito Coffee and Montecito Wine Company releases. - One805 will use the funds for mental wellness and equipment grant programs for Santa Barbara County first responders.

The details: - The partnership launches with Montecito Brands coffee and wine, including Old Firehouse Cabernet and Firehouse Espresso. - A portion of proceeds from each featured item will go to One805’s Mental Wellness Endowment Fund. - One805 has raised more than $8.5 million since its founding after the 2018 mudflows. - One805 is the only nonprofit serving all three primary first responder agencies in Santa Barbara County. - The organization is now working to raise $10 million for the Mental Wellness Endowment Fund. - The endowment is intended to make counseling services available to all county first responders and their families in perpetuity. - The partnership will be featured at One805 fundraising concerts on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 at Kevin Costner’s “Field of Dreams” in Carpinteria. - The concert lineup includes Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, The Temptations, The Four Tops, George Thorogood, The Fray, Alan Parsons, Slightly Stoopid and the High Kings. - Montecito Gourmet’s lantern logo references the Old Historic Montecito Firehouse and the community’s response to disaster.

Between the lines: - The deal turns a local retail brand into a recurring fundraising channel for public safety support. - Both organizations are linking the partnership to the 2018 Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow, reinforcing a shared identity built around community recovery. - One805’s push for an endowed fund signals a shift from one-time relief to permanent support infrastructure. - Montecito Gourmet is using its food and beverage brand to extend its public role beyond hospitality.

What’s next: - Montecito Gourmet and One805 will promote the partnership through upcoming events and product sales. - Sales of featured coffee and wine items are expected to keep feeding One805’s wellness endowment efforts. - The fundraising concerts later this month will serve as an early showcase for the collaboration.

The bottom line: - The partnership gives Santa Barbara County residents a way to support first responders through routine purchases while helping build a lasting mental wellness fund.