Save Veggie Thumper– Your Support Can Keep This Dream Alive

Hi, I’m Lyssa, and I’m the owner of Veggie Thumper, a vegan food truck that’s been serving plant-based meals in Iowa since 2017. Full time since 2019.

I started with little but a garden, a dream and a school bus, converting it into a food truck to bring plant based soul snacks to a city with limited options.

I’ve poured everything I have into this business—my time, my energy, and every penny I could scrape together. But right now, I need YOUR help to keep this dream alive.

Here’s the situation:

-Sales have dropped over 70% since 2020

-Costly mechanical repairs, generators and operational equipment and mounting debt rising cost of goods and most of the repairs means missed events which are non refundable and I haven’t raised prices in 2 season and don’t want to have to.

-Due to City code violations and the properties PUD language the school that took over operations at our businesses home base since 2019 asked us to vacate the premises to reduce their personal risk. We were given less than ONE WEEK notice to find a new central home base to park our 42-foot bus with access to power and water.

-Hiring reliable staff for the upcoming season (if we overcome this hurdle)

Why we need your support NOW:

Without a new home base and the funds to alleviate the upcoming seasons operating costs, I maybe forced to close the service window permanently. If you’ve ever run a small business, you likely grasp how quickly things can spiral when you have a find a new home base to operate, parking, more permits and prep from a 42-foot bus. I’m not ready to throw the veggies out yet. I believe in this business, I believe in this mission, and I know that with your support, we can keep going.

How your donation can help: Every dollar you give will go directly to getting our wheels

rolling.

Here's how you can make a difference:

Share our story. It’s free.

No donation is too small. Whether it’s $5 or $1000, your contribution will help us get one step closer to staying open and continuing the mission of serving healthy food in Iowa.

Sharing this page with your network makes a world of difference. Why it matters: In a state like Iowa, where plant-based options are rare, our food truck isn’t just about serving snacks—it’s about representation, community, changing minds on how and what people are eating, and being a spot where people can enjoy delicious, plant-based from scratch snacks. This is slightly bigger than just me—it’s about all of changing mindsets of what for some is a buzzword and others is a lifestyle. It’s about being an organic black lentil patty with a house made sauce with caramelized onion between toasted sourdough in an impossible burger processed world. It’s about me serving a plate which aligns with a life I lead and not just doing it to provide a basic option factor. This is why I’m asking for your help: to keep the bus rolling, to keep our mission alive, and to make sure we’re here for years to come.

How YOU can help: Donate whatever you can. Every little bit counts. Share this campaign with friends, family, and anyone who believes in supporting small businesses, plant-based snacks, the idea of trying something different. Support the mission by following us on social media (ig: @veggiethumper / FB veggiethumper.com) and spreading the word. Together, we can turn this around. Thank you for your generosity and belief in this dream. Your support means everything right now.