SANTA YNEZ, CA — One month from today, Veggie Rescue will celebrate 16 years of fighting food insecurity and reducing food waste with its “Sweet 16” anniversary event on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Bernat Vineyard & Café Farm in Santa Ynez.
The event will be hosted by Belle Hahn and Lily Hahn Shining, and will honor Shu Takikawa and Debbie Takikawa of The Garden Of for their longtime support and contributions to the organization’s mission.
The event marks a major milestone for the Santa Barbara County nonprofit, which has rescued and donated more than 5 million pounds of fresh, nutritious food to local nonprofits serving food-insecure residents.
Veggie Rescue’s impact continues to grow. In 2025, the organization rescued 18% more food than the year prior, and that momentum has carried into 2026. March 2026 was one of the strongest months in the organization’s history, with 65,031 pounds of food rescued, an increase of nearly 34% compared to March 2025.
“Every day, we see the impact of getting fresh, healthy food into the hands of people who need it most,” said Executive Director Eryn Shugart. “This event is a celebration of what our community has made possible, and an opportunity to continue growing that impact.”
Guests will enjoy an evening of local food, wine, and community, with live and silent auctions supporting Veggie Rescue’s mission. Funds raised will directly support the organization’s operations, including its fleet of refrigerated trucks that rescue and deliver food across Santa Barbara County nearly every day of the year.
In Santa Barbara County, one in three residents struggles to afford basic needs, and access to fresh food remains a growing concern. Veggie Rescue addresses this need by rescuing surplus food from farms, grocery stores, and food businesses, and delivering it within 24 hours to nearly 70 nonprofit partners.
The organization is also growing its volunteer gleaning program, engaging community members directly in harvesting and redistributing fresh food.
“This work is deeply collaborative,” Shugart added. “From farmers and food donors to volunteers and nonprofit partners, it takes a community to make this system work.”
Veggie Rescue extends its gratitude to event sponsors, including 50 Carrot sponsors the Coryat Family and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation; 30 Carrot sponsor Mechanics Bank; and 25 Carrot sponsors Lisa and Steve Palmer, Montecito Bank & Trust, Nagler Family Funds, New Frontiers, and Solomon Hills.
Tickets for the Sweet 16 event are available now. Sponsorship opportunities and additional event details can be found at www.veggierescue.org.
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