Acquire a refrigerated truck to safely transport and deliver surplus fresh and packaged food to its nonprofit partners.
We live in one of the most richly-fertile agricultural regions in the nation but ironically, many south Santa Barbara County residents do not have enough to eat. Even before dramatic cuts in federal food assistance, one in three of our neighbors experienced food insecurity, going hungry at times or fearing they would soon not be able to feed their families. Children are particularly vulnerable, with more than half of public-school children in South County qualifying for free or reduced-priced meals at school.
Attempting to ease this crisis, Veggie Rescue collects fruits and vegetables from more than 60 local farms and businesses (such as Trader Joe’s), delivering it to 45 nonprofit community organizations where low-income individuals and families can access nutritious food. A new refrigerated truck will ensure that almost 50,000 individuals countywide will have access to fresh produce distributed by organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Organic Soup Kitchen, and La Casa de La Raza.
