Author: Mike Scheideman

Over the past 15 years, Table to Table has helped to significantly reduce the amount of wasted food in Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Passaic counties in NJ while feeding tens of thousands of our hungry neighbors.

Working solely within our own community, and without government assistance, the volunteers, directors and staff work each and every day to pick up food that would otherwise be thrown out and bring it directly to those in need.  We are proud of the work we do and pleased to answer any questions from the community.  We have outlined a few basics and common questions below:

What do we do exactly?

Table to Table picks up food that would otherwise be discarded (but that is still in date and 100% healthy,) and delivers it via refrigerated vehicles to pantries, shelters, churches and social service agencies across Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic counties in N.J. Food is typically donated for a variety of reasons including the impact of weather on consumer behavior, over-ordering and over-shipment of fresh food. We load this food into one of our five refrigerated vehicles and deliver it that very same day to more than 80 agencies that feed hungry neighbors.

Who benefits from the organization?

Our not-for-profit delivers to dozens of shelters and pantries across the four northern N.J. counties. Some of the facilities that receive donations include, A Village for Humanity, Irvington, Cresskill Food Pantry, Bridges to Success, Paterson, Salvation Army, Passaic, Miracle’s Ground, Newark, OASIS – A Haven for Women and Children, Paterson, St. Lucy’s Emergency Shelter, Jersey City, and Strengthen our Sister’s, Wanaque. These are only a small sampling of the deliveries made regularly by Table to Table. For a complete list, see our Who Receives page.

Equally notable are our food donors. Without their beautiful food, Table to Table could not and would not be so effective.  Those who donate include, Inserra ShopRite, A&P Supermarkets, DePiero’s Farm, Montvale, AuerPak Produce, Secaucus, Allendale Bar & Grill, Whitson’s Culinary Group, Secaucus, Stop & Shop, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. Again, this is just a small sample of the businesses that support Table to Table. For a complete list, visit our donation page.

So, now you know exactly how it works. Have you really thought about why?

Consider This

Think about how much food you might waste within your own home. Even a family of two tends to waste enough food to sustain another family of two.

Imagine that waste multiplied to the amount that a grocery store must buy to anticipate the purchases of its customers for the next week. Then a snowstorm prevents people from shopping for a couple of days and food is now approaching the expiration mark and must be taken off the shelf to be replaced by fresher products. Where does that food go?

Here.  In 2013 alone, Table to Table rescued and delivered enough food for more than 11 million meals.

Despite challenges that included a sputtering economy, rising gas prices and even a devastating hurricane, Table to Table finished 2012 on a high note — exceeding its goal to deliver 8.5 million meals by well over a million meals. “By December 31, 2012, we had actually delivered enough food for more than ten million meals,” says Ilene Isaacs, Executive Director. In addition, Table to Table met and exceeded another of its most important goals — to deliver more than two million meals to Newark, as part of a new initiative that dramatically extends Table to Table’s geographic footprint. “We also increased the number of agencies that we serve in the city.”

Naturally, Table to Table kicked off 2013 by establishing an even higher goal: to deliver 11 million meals, with three million allocated to Newark.

“We are thrilled and encouraged by our success last year. All of this occurred despite a difficult fourth quarter, where Hurricane Sandy closed down many of our food donors and limited the amount of food available at others but our trucks were immediately out on the road, seeking new food sources and making deliveries to the recipients that rely on our being there,” she said.

Mark your calendar and make a date to join Table to Table for our 7th Annual Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch fundraiser.

This grass-roots effort gets bigger and better every year, as we team up to help feed thousands of neighborhood kids and their families. Imagine…simply by bagging your lunch one day and donating what you’d have otherwise spent, you can help feed a family of four a week! Join us and help spread the word by clicking here for more information!

As every Springsteen fan knows, Bruce is committed to helping local communities. Specifically in New Jersey, he has a long history of supporting hunger relief efforts. Table to Table was the featured charity for the evening when Bruce’s Wrecking Ball Tour rolled through The Prudential Center on May 2nd. Not only was it a spectacular concert, but Bruce’s magic touched fans to donate a record breaking total to help Table to Table bring a second million meals to Newark.

CNBC’s Ron Insana Salutes Table to Table – check it out!

Most years, Table to Table reaches its year-end goal in a nail-biting, race-to-the-finish flurry that brings us within hours of the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. This year, we’re delighted to report a surprisingly less stressful finale. Our goal – seven million meals – was reached by mid-September and, some 14 weeks later, we said so-long to 2011 with a record-breaking 8+ million meals delivered throughout Bergen, Essex, Passaic and Hudson counties.

The reasons for the strong finish are many (including more donors with more food and drivers who give 110% each and every day), but, make no mistake, the need is greater than ever before. Inspired by our success, we’re setting the bar even higher in 2012 – 8.5 million meals. Will you help us?

In this age of texting and video-chatting, a well-written thank you note is the ultimate show of gratitude.  It’s especially appreciated when it arrives on one of Table to Table’s new, exquisitely beautiful note cards. Featuring an image by consummate photographer (and our dear friend) Mel DiGiacomo, the note card captures the simple beauty of fresh-picked pears, a visual nod to Table to Table’s mission to pick up and deliver fresh, perishable food to those who need it most.  Proceeds from the sale of the cards helps keep our trucks on the road.  Cards are available in boxes of 10 for $15 and 25 for $30, plus shipping. To order, click here.

Fox News recently interviewed Henry Maw, the Saddle River ten-year-old who dreamed up Monkeyberry, a popular app for the iPhone and iPad. Henry, the son of Table to Table volunteer Tara Maw, launched the game last year, pledging to donate a portion of the proceeds of his 99 cent app to Table to Table.  His goal? To raise enough money to buy a new truck for Table to Table! Watch this adorable entrepreneur talk with Fox Business correspondent Dennis Kneale here (and log on to your iTunes account to buy the app).  http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1389382756001

Love holiday shopping but loath all that wrapping?  We hear you! Now through Christmas Eve, have all your holiday gifts wrapped by Table to Table’s superstar gift-wrappers.  (All superstar gift-wrappers can call (201) 444-5500 to volunteer!) For the 11th year in a row, Table to Table’s gift wrap store is set up at The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack. Look for us on level 1 by Louis Vuitton. Your holiday gifts will be beautifully wrapped and ready for giving – and best of all – you’ll also be giving the gift of healthy, nutritious food to those less fortunate as 100% of gift wrap proceeds benefit our food rescue mission.

Our best-ever Bag a Lunch initiative wrapped up in October with a tremendous response from area schools, plus an especially profitable 5% Day at Whole Foods. Kudos to our top five teams: Edith A. Bogert Elementary School in Upper Saddle River, Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, Robert Reynolds Primary School in Upper Saddle River, the Ho Ho Kus School and Hartz Mountain, the only corporate partner in the top-five.

A special shout-out to student (and super-star) Gabriella Raia, our #1 team leader who mobilized three schools and took her campaign to Facebook, launching the video here that helped net a combined $8,000 among the schools.