Our Story
From Fields of Abundance to Tables of Need
In one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the country, too many of our neighbors still go hungry. Santa Barbara County produces millions of pounds of fruits and vegetables each year—yet thousands of residents, including children and seniors, struggle to access healthy food.
At the same time, local farms often face surplus crops that never make it to market. Perfectly good produce can be left in the field, plowed under, or sent to landfills. Veggie Rescue exists to bridge that gap: connecting abundance to need, field to table, farmer to family.
How It All Began
In 2006, longtime Santa Ynez Valley resident Terry Delaney saw a problem he couldn’t ignore. He knew local farmers with good food left behind in their fields—and he knew local nonprofits feeding people in need. Terry borrowed a pickup truck, made a few calls, and started gleaning.
“The farmers could see that I was respectful of their land and trusted that I would deliver the produce to a local charity as promised. It was just me at the start, me and my pickup truck.”
~Terry Delaney, Founder
That first small act—rescuing food from the fields and delivering it to Meals on Wheels—sparked what would become Veggie Rescue. Over time, more farmers joined in, word spread, and a community-powered movement took root.
Growth Through Community
Local farmers like Shu and Debbie Takikawa were among the first to partner, sharing their organic harvests with Veggie Rescue. Soon, local organizations such as Los Olivos Rotary and the Orfalea Foundation stepped up to help fund the first refrigerated truck the one with the big orange carrot that still makes people smile.
“That carrot has become synonymous with nourishing our community. When you see the Veggie Rescue truck rolling down the road, I think it makes people smile.”
~Terry Delaney,
Today, Veggie Rescue operates three refrigerated trucks, collecting surplus produce from more than 55 local farms and delivering it—free of charge—to over 65 nonprofit partners across Santa Barbara County. Each week, our team of staff and volunteers rescues fresh fruits and vegetables and delivers them the same day to shelters, senior centers, and food programs serving those who need it most.
Our Mission in Motion
Led by Executive Director Eryn Shugart, Veggie Rescue now delivers more than 675,000 pounds of food each year—valued at over 1.1 million dollars. We remain a lean, grassroots operation without a warehouse: food goes from the farm to our trucks to the nonprofits within hours. That’s how we keep it fresh, local, and impactful.
Our partnerships continue to spark innovation. For example, Good Samaritan Shelter, one of our early recipients, launched BridgeHouse Farm in Lompoc—an organic farm that now provides food and agricultural job training to shelter residents. And when BridgeHouse grows more than they can use, they give back to Veggie Rescue.
It’s a full circle of generosity.
The Work Ahead
The challenges are changing. Cuts and threats to federal food and farm programs are creating new strains on local producers and families. Yet Veggie Rescue’s model, rooted in local partnerships, volunteer power, and community trust, remains resilient.
“Current budget cuts have created more need, more food insecurity. It doesn’t make our job easier. But we’re committed to meeting our mission and increasing our impact for those who are most vulnerable.”
— Eryn Shugart, Executive Director
Our story is one of shared responsibility: farmers who grow, volunteers who glean, donors who give, and neighbors who receive. Together, we’re keeping good food local, fresh, and put to good use.
Join the Rescue
Veggie Rescue thrives because our community believes that no good food should go to waste and no neighbor should go hungry. You can help by donating, volunteering, or becoming a partner farm or nonprofit recipient.
Every carrot counts.