Veggie Rescue WPPS
On the central coast of Calif. There are 10’s of thousands of acres of produce grown, and from harvest to end consumer an estimated 35% of all food grown and produced is going to waste. At the same time 1 in 8 people in our county are living with food insecurity, with limited access to healthy food, and poor diets contributing to poor mental and physical health, limiting personal and community development
We believe that there is enough fresh produce for everyone and that people in need can be connected with fresh produce outside of the traditional market.
To address these issues, Veggie Rescue:
Partners with local farmers, farmers markets, restaurant supply companies and businesses to pick up fresh produce and high-quality food that is either imperfect for commercial use or going to go bad by the time it can get sold through normal channels. Veggie Rescue’s role is to make it convenient for these farms and businesses to donate.
We then deliver the food directly to the organizations who are feeding the most vulnerable in our community, at no cost to the recipients. The nonprofits we deliver to are all across Santa Barbara County, but in the Santa Ynez Valley the list includes: the Solvang Senior Center, Atterdag at Home (Meals on Wheels Program), Bethania Lutheran Food Pantry, People Helping People, the Buellton Senior Center, the Golden Inn and Village, Feed The Valley, and while it was distributing food, the St. Mark’s Meal Program.
Veggie Rescue also provides volunteer based gleaning services for residential gardens and fruit trees, small farm and orchards. If you have fruit or vegetables that are going to go uneaten, or would like to be added to our list of volunteer gleaners to help harvest, please give us a call, or contact us through our website.
Contact: Diana O’Connell
Address: 3630 Sagunto Street Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Phone: 805-350-9154
Website: https://www.veggierescue.org/