The Local Love Project Spreads Love with Fresh Produce

At the end of 2017, the Thomas Fire burned over 281,000 acres and destroyed 1,063 structures including Wicked Wire Ranch, the home of Totally Local VC’s founder and CEO, Kat Merrick. According to their website, Totally Local VC, founded in 2011, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps to engage and educate the local community on the importance of local farms, small businesses, and individuals in the community who are helping to build a strong economy and sustainable future.

Two days after losing everything she had, Merrick and other locals met to discuss the community’s needs and ways to fill the gap. During that meeting, The Local Love Project was born under the umbrella of Totally Local VC, in partnership with Dave Swaffar Co., with an aim to partner organizations and businesses together to fill the need of community members who were affected by disasters.

Today our community is faced with many uncertainties in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Local Love Project moved into action since the Stay-At-home order, providing over 10,000 households in Ventura County food and essential needs. They have partnered with a number of local organizations to provide healthy produce to those in our community who are low-income, disabled, elderly, or directly affect by the virus.

When all non-essential businesses were ordered to close in Ventura County, restaurants, retail businesses, food pantries and farms took a big hit. Most food pantries were unable to stay open due to the lack of volunteers, the majority of whom were ages 60+. Thanks to the efforts of The Local Love Project and its many partners, food pantries were able to reopen and produce/essential item boxes were delivered throughout the entire county. At this time, The Local Love Project is still seeking volunteers and donations as food is the number one need for our community members. “We are all in this together…our community is very strong and when disasters happen we have an amazing ability to come together. I hope the takeaway for the community is a better understanding of where our food comes from,” says Merrick.