Category: Announcements

Table to Table, NJ’s First Food Rescue, Celebrates 25 Years of Nourishing Communities, Reducing Food Waste, and Improving the Well Being of Food Insecure Neighbors

March 26, 2024 – Saddle Brook, NJ – Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue, celebrates 25 years of nourishing communities, reducing food waste, and improving the well-being of food insecure neighbors. What began in 1999 with one food rescue in a donated van, has flourished to become an efficient and impactful operation and a force for change that—to date—has resulted in the rescue and delivery of enough food for over 311 million healthy meals throughout northern New Jersey. To mark this milestone, the nonprofit has set a goal of rescuing/delivering enough fresh food for 25 million meals this year, via its fleet of 6 trucks and volunteer-based app, Table to Table I-Rescue. Visit Table to Table’s “Drive for 25” for 25 fun, easy and actionable ways to celebrate and drive impact!

“We’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made throughout our 25 years, ensuring healthy food does not go to waste and nourishing the hearts, minds and bodies of our neighbors in need” said Heather Thompson, Executive Director, Table to Table. “This all started two and a half decades ago thanks to the drive and dedication of our founder, Claire Insalata Poulos, and a small group of amazing individuals who stepped up to help. They saw good food being wasted, and they saw too many people who were struggling, and they were determined to do something about it. They started something that nobody else in New Jersey was doing at the time, and to this day we are still the largest fresh food rescue nonprofit in the State,” Thompson added.

“Every day, we continue to build on the strong foundation they created,” Thompson continued. “We are able to make a difference right here, right now in our own communities, thanks to their vision and to our donors, partners, and volunteers who make our work possible,” Thompson added. “As we celebrate this milestone and look to the future, we invite everyone to check out our “Drive for 25” to find 25 special ways you can support our mission–there’s something for everyone, and every action adds up to a huge impact,” Thompson concluded.

Table to Table’s “Drive for 25” was designed not only to provide a snapshot of the organization’s pivotal moments throughout the past 25 years, but also to offer a variety of 25 ways to celebrate this momentous time. You can choose to support Table to Table’s mission by learning how to reduce food waste in your home, volunteering, attending or hosting an event, getting your company or school involved, or even downloading an amazing playlist to inspire you as you drive to your next food rescue!

To help Table to Table in their mission to reduce food waste and address food insecurity in New Jersey, you can make a donation today – every dollar you contribute provides resources for the organization to rescue and deliver food for 10 healthy meals. For more information on Table to Table, visit www.tabletotable.org.

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org), NJ’s first food rescue organization, collects fresh and perishable food which would otherwise be wasted and delivers it to organizations that serve people experiencing hunger in Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic counties in Northern NJ. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 200+ partner organizations including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, we touch a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Table to Table raises all its own funds annually, and last year delivered enough food to provide over 23 million meals.

Press Contact:

Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing Communications

msinopoli@tabletotable.org

Funds Raised Help Reduce Food Waste and Deliver Enough Food for 14,600 Meals to Food Insecure Neighbors

Saddle River, NJ February 8, 2024 — Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, recognizes the students at Harrison Elementary School in Livingston, NJ with the 2023 Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy in support of Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch initiative, which invites participants to donate what they would spend on lunch for a day, week, month or more to help Table to Table reduce food waste and feed those who need it most.

“The power harnessed by these Harrison Elementary students to be true community heroes – reducing food waste, while also feeding thousands of New Jersey neighbors facing food insecurity – is nothing short of incredible,” said Heather Thompson, Executive Director, Table to Table. “With this impressive level of community leadership, the future is truly bright. Table to Table is thrilled to recognize their tremendous efforts with the 2023 Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy,” Thompson concluded.

Through the kindness of The Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation, a challenge grant of $30,000 among all Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch participating schools in Northern NJ was established. Of the dozens of schools that participated in 2023, Harrison Elementary School was the top fundraiser. The funds they raised will rescue and deliver enough food for 14,600healthymeals for those in need throughout Northern NJ. That number, along with funds raised by the other schools, was generously doubled by the Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation.

“Preserving the environment and reducing food insecurity are two incredibly important issues to the students of Harrison Elementary and the reason we have been an ongoing supporter of Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch,” said Ms. Sara Calabrese, co-advisor for student council and a teacher at Harrison Elementary School.

“Our Student Council played a critical role in mobilizing the student body to support the program. The results are impressive, and we are all honored to be recognized for our efforts,” added Ms. Stephanie Siu, co-advisor for student council and teacher at Harrison Elementary School.

Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch is made possible by generous sponsors includingPresenting Sponsors: BD andInserra Supermarkets; Gold Sponsor: Kearny Bank; Silver Sponsors: Aspen, Cross River Bank, Firmenich Charitable Foundation, Takasago and The Children’s Place; Bronze Sponsors: DoorDash, Freedom Bank, Movado, and PNC Bank.

To help Table to Table in their mission to reduce food waste and address food insecurity in New Jersey, Donate Now! For more information on Table to Table, visit us at www.tabletotable.org.

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org), NJ’s first food rescue organization, collects fresh and perishable food which would otherwise be wasted and delivers it to organizations that serve people experiencing hunger in Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic counties in Northern NJ. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 200+ partner organizations including, social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, we touch a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Table to Table raises all its own funds annually, and last year delivered enough food to provide over 23 million meals.

Press Contact:

Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing Communications

917-532-6148 msinopoli@tabletotable.org

Saddle Brook, NJ, December 21, 2023 –Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, celebrates a major milestone of 2 million pounds of food delivered to hungry neighbors via its volunteer-based food rescue app, Table to Table I-Rescue. In just a little over two years, volunteers using the app have collected free, fresh, and donated food from restaurants and grocery stores and delivered that food to recipient agencies such as food pantries and shelters that feed communities in need throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic Counties. Powered by Food Rescue Hero, the app is available on iOS and Google Play. To download Table to Table I-Rescue, volunteer, or learn more, visit: https://tabletotable.org/i-rescue/

“We are not only proud but grateful! Afterall, Table to Table I-Rescue has gone from just a kernel of an idea two years ago to being a major source for feeding our hungry New Jerseyans today,” says Julie Kinner, VP of Operations for Table to Table. “Because the app is intuitive and flexible, it is the trifecta of food insecurity tools. It is embraced by an amazing community of volunteers, generous food donors, and very appreciative recipient partners,” Kinner concluded.

How Does Table to Table I-Rescue Work?

Doing your part to feed hungry neighbors is easy, flexible, and can be done in about an hour. Simply download Table to Table I-Rescue app (available on IOS and Android) and claim a food rescue. Make sure notifications are on and check the app daily for available rescues. Pick up food within the designated time window and immediately deliver the food donation to a nearby group home or food pantry. Claim a food rescue today by clicking here or if you are a grocery store, food distributor or restaurant and would like to donate excess, fresh food click here.

To help Table to Table in their mission to eliminate food insecurity in Northern New Jersey, Donate Now. And, if your organization would like to become a corporate partner, click here.

About Table to Table

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first food rescue organization. Committed to feeding our hungry neighbors in Northern NJ, Table to Table rescues and delivers healthy, fresh, and perishable food from grocery stores, food distributors and restaurants, and in doing so, nourishes the community while helping our environment. In partnership with hundreds of recipient organizations like food pantries, senior centers, and school programs–along with its powerful network of volunteers–Table to Table supports health and wellness for all. Since its inception in 1999, Table to Table has rescued and delivered the equivalent of more than 288 million meals and saved nearly 98,000 tons of potentially wasted food from landfills. And, through our Table to Table I-Rescue app—powered by Food Rescue Hero—we have expanded our distribution footprint to include donations that serve smaller donors and recipient organizations. Independently funded through grants and donations, Table to Table is proud of its Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating for 13 consecutive years. Learn more by visiting https://tabletotable.org/

Contact: Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing Communications: msinopoli@tabletotable.org

• Survey reveals nearly three-quarters of Americans think the state of the economy is resulting in a bigger crisis for food insecurity.
• HelloFresh reaches new milestones in its work fighting hunger around the country through the Meals with Meaning food donation program.
• Nominations for HelloFresh’s LimeAid program, which provides direct relief to people facing food insecurity, will remain open through the holidays.

New York, NY—December 8th, 2023—HelloFresh, the world’s leading meal kit provider, is unveiling striking new data on food insecurity in the US and reaffirming its commitment to serving people in need through its charitable programs.

Food insecurity, defined by Feeding America as the lack of consistent enough access to food to lead a healthy life, is a pressing issue across the country, recently exacerbated by the end of pandemic-era benefits and the rising cost of living.

This harsh reality is underscored by the Hunger Matters in the U.S. Report, a representative survey of US adults recently commissioned and released by HelloFresh. According to the data:

• Food insecurity is a sweeping issue across America: Nearly one-third of Americans (32%) reported personal experience with food insecurity at some point, while 40% reported having a friend or relative who has experienced food insecurity. More than two-thirds of Americans (69%) acknowledged that food insecurity is a problem in America, while more than half (51%) acknowledged it is a problem in their own communities.
• The economy is top of mind for Americans: Almost three-quarters of respondents (72%) agreed the economy is causing a larger food insecurity crisis. At the same time, more than half of respondents (51%) cited cost and affordability as one of the biggest barriers to eating well. When asked about pressing issues in their community, Americans cited inflation as the top concern (77%), followed by poverty (66%).
• There is a generational divide, with young adults much more likely to go hungry: Respondents ages 18-34 were almost twice as likely to report having experienced food insecurity, compared to respondents ages 55+ (41% vs. 21%, respectively). More than one-third of 18-34 year old respondents (38%) said they believe they have experienced food insecurity in the last year.
• Americans are looking to brands and organizations to take action: More than two-thirds of Americans (68%) said they would like to see brands and organizations do more about the state of hunger and food insecurity. The top three actions that Americans reported they would like organizations to take to address food insecurity are: creating emergency food programs, such as food banks and meal programs (59%); directly donating to people facing food insecurity (51%); and advocating for government policy that focuses on the causes of food insecurity (42%).
  

“This research not only underscores that the need to fight hunger is tremendous, but also that people are looking for community organizations and brands like HelloFresh to work together to take action to address it,” said Jeffrey Yorzyk, senior director of sustainability at HelloFresh. “Hunger never sleeps so we are committed to continuing our fight against hunger, through the holidays and every day after, alongside our valued partners and customers.”

Fighting Hunger Through Public-Private Partnerships

HelloFresh created Meals with Meaning in 2020 to provide pre-packaged meal kits, with fresh ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards, to people in need—through partnerships with local nonprofits—where HelloFresh has distribution centers. HelloFresh has delivered more than 6 million meals and provides 40,000 meals to people in need each week in Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Newark, New York City and Phoenix. Earlier this month, HelloFresh and partners, the City of Newark and New Jersey’s first food rescue organization Table to Table, marked a significant milestone through its Meals with Meaning program: 2 million meals delivered to people facing food insecurity in the greater Newark area alone.

“In today’s economy, it’s truly a struggle to pay for necessities like rent, utilities and childcare and still have enough money to put healthy, nutritious food on the table. Often trade-offs must occur,” said Julie Kinner, vice president of operations, Table to Table. “For nearly a decade, Table to Table and HelloFresh have proudly partnered to not only provide and deliver fresh food to hungry neighbors but also to ease their stress and provide hope.”

Fighting Hunger By Supporting Individuals in Need

HelloFresh also will keep nominations for its LimeAid program open through the end of the year to help families in need through the holiday season. LimeAid is HelloFresh’s effort to fight food insecurity on the individual level by providing 3 months of free HelloFresh meal kits to people in need. Anyone can nominate a friend, loved one or neighbor, and the HelloFresh team assesses and chooses winners based on need. Since LimeAid’s inception, HelloFresh has supported nearly 500 families with this program. Nominations remain open here.

HelloFresh donates surplus food, ingredients, supplies, finished meal kits, employee volunteer hours and monetary contributions to organizations fighting food insecurity and food waste.

To learn more about how HelloFresh fights food insecurity and join in the action, please visit www.hellofresh.com.

ABOUT HELLOFRESH

HelloFresh is the world’s leading meal-kit company. Founded in Berlin in November 2011, the Company now operates across 18 international markets. In 2022, HelloFresh furthered their mission to “change the way people eat forever” by delivering more than 490 million meals to customers across the U.S. HelloFresh was voted the Most Trusted Meal Kit Delivery Service in America in 2021 and 2022 by Newsweek. HelloFresh has offices in New York, Chicago, and Boulder. For more information, visit www.hellofresh.com.

ABOUT TABLE TO TABLE

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first food rescue organization. Committed to feeding our hungry neighbors in Northern NJ, Table to Table rescues and delivers healthy, fresh, and perishable food from grocery stores, food distributors and restaurants, and in doing so, nourishes the community while helping our environment. In partnership with hundreds of recipient organizations like food pantries, senior centers, and school programs–along with its powerful network of volunteers–Table to Table supports health and wellness for all. Since its inception in 1999, Table to Table has rescued and delivered the equivalent of more than 288 million meals and saved nearly 98,000 tons of potentially wasted food from landfills. And, through our Table to Table I-Rescue app—powered by Food Rescue Hero—we have expanded our distribution footprint to include donations that serve smaller donors and recipient organizations. Independently funded through grants and donations, Table to Table is proud of its Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating for 13 consecutive years. Learn more by visiting https://tabletotable.org/

Program Available to Schools in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic Counties

Saddle Brook, NJ, December 5, 2023 –If you have visited a school lunchroom lately, you know the amount of food wasted can be staggering. Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, is on a mission to change this reality with its new initiative, I-Rescue Lunch, which encourages K-12 students to rescue, recycle and reduce food waste while feeding hungry neighbors. Through the use of the nonprofit’s app, Table to Table I-Rescue and key partnerships with school ambassadors, wholesome unopened food like applesauce, fruit, yogurt as well as prepared cafeteria entrees are placed in crates for pickup by Table to Table volunteers and delivered to partners such as shelters, group homes or soup kitchens. Learn more at www.tabletotable.org/foodrescue.

“We are always exploring innovative ways to provide our hungry New Jersey neighbors with nourishment, and school cafeterias—with their high levels of waste—seemed like a natural way to leverage our Table to Table I-Rescue app,” says Julie Kinner, Vice President of Operations, Table to Table. “Although this marks the official I-Rescue Lunch launch, Table to Table’s I-Rescue App launched in May 2021 and now serves as the backbone for this school cafeteria-focused program,” Kinner concluded.

As part of the soft launch of I-Rescue Lunch, Table to Table partnered with a team of middle schoolers at Newark Academy in Livingston six months ago. Overseen by their Science teacher, the students collect nutritious, prepared food from the school’s cafeteria, package it up and contact Table to Table to request a volunteer pick up. Schools can also choose to deliver the food themselves to one of Table to Table’s recipient partners.

“I am very proud of the Middle School Newark Academy Food Rescue Team! They saw a problem and took action,” says Debra Tavares, 6th Grade Team Leader & Advisor, Newark Academy Science Department. “Since the spring of 2023, every Friday, the students pack up dining hall food for Table to Table to deliver to their clients. The students are actively contributing to the school’s sustainability focus and contributing to the community in a positive way,” concludes Tavares.

The amount of food waste is school cafeterias is prevalent across the United States. According to a study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Kroger Company, an average of 39.2 pounds of food and approximately 28.7 cards of milk per student are wasted. And, at the same time, food insecurity continues to be something that plagues even wealthy states like New Jersey. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 NJ children do not know where their next meal is coming from.

To participate in the I-Rescue Lunch visit: https://tabletotable.org/irescuelunch.

To help Table to Table in their mission to eliminate food insecurity in Northern New Jersey, Donate Now! And, if your organization would like to become a corporate partner, click here.

About Table to Table

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first food rescue organization. Committed to feeding our hungry neighbors in Northern NJ, Table to Table rescues and delivers healthy, fresh, and perishable food from grocery stores, food distributors and restaurants, and in doing so, nourishes the community while helping our environment. In partnership with hundreds of recipient organizations like food pantries, senior centers, and school programs–along with its powerful network of volunteers–Table to Table supports health and wellness for all. Since its inception in 1999, Table to Table has rescued and delivered the equivalent of more than 288 million meals and saved nearly 98,000 tons of potentially wasted food from landfills. And, through our Table to Table I-Rescue app—powered by Food Rescue Hero—we have expanded our distribution footprint to include donations that serve smaller donors and recipient organizations. Independently funded through grants and donations, Table to Table is proud of its Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating for 13 consecutive years. Learn more by visiting https://tabletotable.org/

Contact: Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing Communications: msinopoli@tabletotable.org

Newark, NJ—November 20, 2023—Mayor Ras J. Baraka, HelloFresh, ShopRite of Newark, Table to Table, and Colavita distributed 3,600 complete Thanksgiving turkey dinners and additional food products to Newark residents today at Newark’s Training Recreation Education Center (TREC), located at 55 Ludlow Street. The distribution was free and open to the public via drive-through and walk-up.

“Thanksgiving is particularly meaningful in Newark because it is a city which unites to give,” said Mayor Baraka. “Today we hold our city’s Thanksgiving turkey giveaway and celebrate a remarkable milestone – 2 million meals distributed in partnership with HelloFresh through the ‘Meals with Meaning’ program. These wonderful accomplishments are born of a true collaboration where each partner gives and receives with generosity and joy.

“On behalf of the entire City, I extend our gratitude to HelloFresh, who jumped in at the beginning of the COVID pandemic to say, ‘We have food – help us get it to people,’ and they’ve done nothing but step up their commitment ever since. I want to thank Colavita, Table to Table, and WSL Produce House who supply the food and food products essential to our success. And I thank ShopRite of Newark for its deep, long-term dedication to the people of Newark and their nutritional needs. All these partners exemplify the true meaning of Thanksgiving and give us something extra special to be grateful for this year. I wish everyone in Newark a happy Thanksgiving with an awareness of our blessings and our solidarity,” he added.

The event also celebrated a donation milestone of 2 million meals for HelloFresh’s Meals with Meaning program, in partnership with the City. This outreach program began at the beginning of the COVID shutdown in April 2020, providing free meal kits to Newark residents facing food insecurity. The program continues to this day, with volunteers packing and distributing 1,300 boxes per week at locations rotating through the city’s five wards.

“We’re proud to partner with Mayor Baraka and the City of Newark to support local food-insecure families and alleviate the stress of getting access to nourishing meals this Thanksgiving,” said Uwe Voss, CEO of HelloFresh, North America. “Hunger remains a critical issue with more than 1 million individuals facing food insecurity in New Jersey alone. While we’re thrilled to reach our two million meals milestone, we recognize the need to continue providing meaningful assistance to the community and work together to combat food insecurity.”

In addition to the 3,600 turkeys distributed, HelloFresh provided 3,600 side dish kits, a holiday recipe card, and an extra pasta and pesto dish. The event was also sponsored by Colavita, Table to Table, and WSL Produce House.

“For more than two decades, Table to Table has proudly served our hungry neighbors throughout the City of Newark by delivering millions of pounds of fresh, nutritious food donated by generous partners like HelloFresh,” said Julie Kinner, VP of Operations, Table to Table. “We are eternally grateful to work alongside such amazing partners as it truly represents a caring community taking action.”

“In addition to the 10,000 turkeys ShopRite Partners In Caring is donating this holiday season to regional food banks, the ShopRite of Newark will once again join Mayor Ras J. Baraka in providing holiday meals to local families,” said Neil Greenstein, owner and operator of the ShopRite of Newark. “The ShopRite of Newark is proud to donate hundreds of turkeys each year to the city to make sure that neighbors who are struggling can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal. We are thankful to Mayor Baraka and his team and all the organizations that raise awareness about food insecurity and help fight hunger in our community.”

“This means the world…to come out here and celebrate with turkeys. It means so much to our neighborhood and community,” said Alia Clark, a turkey recipient. “A lot of people that will get these are homeless, or don’t have turkeys, or money to even buy turkeys. So, this is like a blessing to our community for you to come out and support us.”

HelloFresh aims to change the way people eat forever, inclusive of those facing food insecurity. Its social impact program focuses on reducing food waste and creating a more equitable food system for those in need. The program consists of their “Meals with Meaning” initiative, launched in 2020, as a response to the pandemic and elevated rates of food insecurity. Through Meals with Meaning, HelloFresh provides 40,000 free meal kits with wholesome, easy-to-follow recipes to people facing food insecurity every single week across the country. Each kit contains HelloFresh ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards to create home-cooked meals.

For photographs of the giveaway, click here.

Saddle Brook, NJ October 25, 2023 – Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, kicks off its annual Great Northern NJ Turkey Take with Table to Table I-Rescue, a holiday initiative allowing residents in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic Counties to personally donate and deliver a frozen turkey—or more—to local food pantries and group homes. Now through December 22, individuals, corporations, schools, and community groups can contact Table to Table to inform of us of your donation. Then, download the Table to Table I-Rescue app for the location near you where the turkey can be delivered. Or, if you’d like, volunteers will pick up your donation and deliver it for you.

Alternatively, if you would like to help, but are too busy to shop, you can make a donation to help Table to Table deliver more meals throughout the year to those in need. Table to Table I-Rescue–powered by Food Rescue Hero–is available on iOS and Google Play.

“As we celebrate our third year of The Great Northern NJ Turkey Take, we invite the community at large to join us in feeding our hungry neighbors, especially as Thanksgiving quickly approaches,” said Julie Kinner, Vice President of Operations, Table to Table. “Remember, you can donate that free turkey you’ve received from your local grocery store,” Kinner concluded.

About Table to Table

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first food rescue organization. Committed to feeding our hungry neighbors in Northern NJ, Table to Table rescues and delivers healthy, fresh, and perishable food from grocery stores, food distributors and restaurants, and in doing so, nourishes the community while helping our environment. In partnership with hundreds of recipient organizations like food pantries, senior centers, and school programs–along with its powerful network of volunteers–Table to Table supports health and wellness for all. Since its inception in 1999, Table to Table has rescued and delivered the equivalent of more than 288 million meals and saved nearly 98,000 tons of potentially wasted food from landfills. And, through our Table to Table I-Rescue app—powered by Food Rescue Hero—we have expanded our distribution footprint to include donations that serve smaller donors and recipient organizations. Independently funded through grants and donations, Table to Table is proud of its Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating for 13 consecutive years. Learn more by visiting https://tabletotable.org/

Press Contact: Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing: msinopoli@tabletotable.org

Saddle Brook, NJ September 20, 2023 –Table to Table, NJ’s first food rescue organization, not only showcased a lineup of notable chefs at its Chefs Gala but also raised funds to provide enough fresh food for 3.5 million meals for hungry neighbors throughout Northern NJ. Presented by American Express, Table to Table’s Chefs Gala took place Wednesday, September 27^th at the Edgewood Country Club in River Vale and highlighted celebrated chefs who meticulously prepared their delicious selections, expertly paired with fine wines. This year’s Gala Honoree was chef, restaurateur, author, and community advocate, Melba Wilson. In addition to the exquisite multi-course meal, attendees placed their bids in the live auction featuring travel, food, and wine experiences. A silent auction, during the cocktail hour, was added this year. Every dollar raised helps deliver enough food for 10 meals to hungry neighbors.

This year’s participating chefs were: David Burke (David Burke Hospitality Management); Clifford Crooks (BLT Restaurant Group); Peter Kelly (Xaviers Restaurant Group); Bobbie Lloyd (Magnolia Bakery); David Lopez (Mil Gustos); Ardian Skenderi (Taverna Kyclades); Alex Tubero (Civetta Hospitality); Anthony Villanueva (Edgewood Country Club) and Melba Wilson (Melba’s Restaurant and Catering). Wines were coordinated by Carlo Russo’s Wine & Spirits World.

At this year’s Chef Gala, Table to Table proudly presented the Inaugural Members of The Founder’s Table to: American Express, American Airlines, Crestron, Inserra Supermarkets, Rudolf J. Mueller, Summit Associates, and Volvo Car USA.

To help Table to Table in their mission to eliminate food insecurity in Northern New Jersey, Donate Now! If you are interested in volunteering your time to pick up and deliver food, learn more and sign up here. And, if your organization would like to become a corporate partner, click here. For more information on Table to Table, visit us at www.tabletotable.org

About Table to Table

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first food rescue organization. Committed to feeding our hungry neighbors in Northern NJ, Table to Table rescues and delivers healthy, fresh, and perishable food from grocery stores, food distributors and restaurants, and in doing so, nourishes the community while helping our environment. In partnership with hundreds of recipient organizations like food pantries, senior centers, and school programs–along with its powerful network of volunteers–Table to Table supports health and wellness for all. Since its inception in 1999, Table to Table has rescued and delivered the equivalent of more than 288 million meals and saved nearly 98,000 tons of potentially wasted food from landfills. And, through our Table to Table I-Rescue app—powered by Food Rescue Hero—we have expanded our distribution footprint to include donations that serve smaller donors and recipient organizations. Independently funded through grants and donations, Table to Table is proud of its Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating for 13 consecutive years. Learn more by visiting https://tabletotable.org/

Contact: Maria Sinopoli–Director, Marketing Communications msinopoli@tabletotable.org