With Santa Barbara County facing the second-highest poverty rate in California, food insecurity remains a pressing issue for some 100,000 residents, according to Veggie Rescue, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing food waste and feeding those in need.
Veggie Rescue works with local farms, grocery stores, and food businesses to redirect surplus food, which would otherwise go to waste, to nonprofits serving food-insecure individuals.
Last week alone, Veggie Rescue reports it rescued and delivered more than 1,700 pounds of fresh produce and other nutritious food to Friendship Manor in Isla Vista, a senior living community that provides affordable housing for older adults.
In 2024, the organization rescued and distributed more than 630,000 pounds of food, providing healthy meals to nonprofits, shelters, and community organizations countywide.
“Our mission is simple: we connect excess food with people facing hunger,” said Judy Taggart at Veggie Rescue. “With so many struggling to afford nutritious meals in our county, we work to ensure surplus food ends up on people’s tables, not at the landfill.”
While known for its wealth and agriculture, Santa Barbara County also faces a poverty rate of nearly 20%, according to recent data, Veggie Rescue reports.
Many individuals and families — including seniors, low-income workers, and students — struggle with food insecurity daily, the organization said.
Veggie Rescue’s work also has positive environmental impacts. About a quarter of all food winds up in landfills where it releases methane, a greenhouse gas.
Veggie Rescue is calling on local businesses, farms, and community members to support its mission through food donations, financial contributions, or volunteer work.
To learn more, visit veggierescue.org or contact eryn@veggierescue.