Executive Director Update-December 2025

As we come to the close of another year, I find myself filled with gratitude for this community and for each of you who make Veggie Rescue’s work possible. This holiday season, and throughout the year, the generosity of our donors and foundation partners has allowed us to grow our impact in meaningful ways. Because of your support, we are serving more nonprofits, reaching more community members, and we are on track to rescue a record 725,000 pounds of fresh, nourishing food by December 31.

I am especially grateful to Jackie Carrera and the Santa Barbara Foundation for their continued partnership and belief in Veggie Rescue. Jackie, thank you for your leadership and for speaking so beautifully at our November donor reception. Your words and the Foundation’s support help shine a light on both the urgency of food insecurity in our county and the power of community-driven solutions.

Also, I cannot thank The Balay Ko Foundation enough for their incredibly generous support of our transportation program. I am delighted to share that the Foundation recently granted us funds, which will allow us to replace one of our aging box trucks for rescuing and delivering food to nonprofits in Central and North County.

Additional thanks are in order for the Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe proprietors Sam and Shawnda Marmorstein for selecting Veggie Rescue as the benefitting charity for a portion of the proceeds from their 30th anniversary celebration event, held last night, and for agreeing to allow us the use of their gorgeous farm next May for our Sweet 16 event. Thank you as well to Veggie Rescue supporter Belle Hahn and Jackie Gilbert, executive director of One Thread Collective, for including us in their Regenerative Runway event on December 12.