Category: Announcements

August 2008 – Table to Table, northeast New Jersey’s only dedicated food rescue program, has been named a recipient of a $25,000 grant from Markham Vineyards. The first-ever “Mark of Distinction” grants award funding for programs that empower individuals to make positive, tangible change across America. Table to Table board member Chuck Russo, owner of Carlo Russo’s Wine & Spirit World in Ho Ho Kus, applied for the grant on behalf of Table to Table.

Following an April call for entries, Markham received hundreds of proposals, narrowing the field to ten candidates in July. Online voting determined two grant recipients in late July. In his grant appeal, Russo cited record high food prices, coupled with rising fuel costs – “the lifeblood of our organization” – to draw a compelling picture of Table to Table’s food rescue mission. “The cost of food has risen to its highest rate in two decades,” says Russo. “The situation is devastating for those living on the economic edge.”

“Table to Table has become one of the most essential services in our communities,” says Claire Insalata Poulos, founder of the food rescue organization. “This prize will further our mission to collect prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be discarded and deliver it, free of charge, to organizations that serve the hungry in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex counties. This year, we will deliver enough food to serve more than six million meals. ”

Table to Table receives no government funding and, instead, relies solely on funding from private and corporate donations. Numerous northern New Jersey individuals, businesses and organizations contribute to Table to Table’s success. Table to Table is the only dedicated food rescue program in northeast New Jersey. Every day, the hunger relief agency collects fully cooked entrees, fresh produce and meats, dairy products and other perishables that would normally be discarded, and safely delivers them, free of charge, to soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other social service agencies in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.

For more information about Table to Table, call (201) 444-5500.

— One-Day Initiative is scheduled for October 22 —

Englewood Cliffs, NJ (July 2008) – Thousands of employees and students representing a wide range of area companies and schools will join together on October 22, 2008, to help fight hunger in their local communities. They are all participants in Table to Table’s Third Annual Bag A Lunch, Help A Bunch program, a one-day initiative that asks individuals to donate the equivalent of one day’s lunch money to Table to Table. The non-profit agency is Northeast New Jersey’s only food rescue program, which picks up fresh perishable food from grocery stores and restaurants and delivers it to shelters and soup kitchens seven days a week.

Dozens of companies and schools have already signed on to be a part of the program however it’s not too late to become involved. Table to Table seeks enthusiastic team captains to coordinate their company’s participation. Team captains agree to champion the cause among co- workers and coordinate the program within their offices. Table to Table provides each captain with a Bag a Lunch kit containing brown paper lunch bags, posters and information about the program and organization. The bags are distributed to all employees or students at the company or school and then collected on October 22, tallied and returned to Table to Table.

Last year, Table to Table raised more than $80,000 through the one-day initiative. Companies can sign up to participate simply by logging on to www.tabletotable.org and clicking on Bag a Lunch or by calling Tara Galatt at (917) 216-9675. Table to Table is northeast New Jersey’s first and only food rescue program. Every day, the hunger relief agency collects fully cooked entrees, fresh produce, dairy products and other perishables that would normally be discarded, and safely delivers them to soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other social service agencies in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.

For more information about Table to Table, call (201) 444-5500.

Only New Jersey-based Charity to be in the Running for $25,000 Grant Prize

Englewood Cliffs, NJ (July 2008) – Proud New Jerseyans have until July 21, 2008 to log on and cast a vote in Markham Vineyards’ “Mark of Distinction” grant program, which recently named Table to Table the only charitable organization in New Jersey to be included among its top ten finalists. Voters can log on at www.markhammarkofdistinction.com and cast their vote for Table to Table, northeast New Jersey’s only food rescue program.
Tireless volunteer and Table to Table board member Chuck Russo, owner of Carlo Russo’s Wine & Spirit World in Ho Ho Kus, entered Table to Table in the “Mark of Distinction” grants program. Russo’s grant appeal cited record high food prices, coupled with rising fuel costs – “the lifeblood of our organization” – to draw a compelling picture of Table to Table’s food rescue mission. Two winners will be chosen to receive $25,000 grants.

“Table to Table has become one of the most essential services in our communities,” says Claire Insalata Poulos, founder of the food rescue organization. “If awarded, this prize will further our mission to collect prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be discarded and deliver it, free of charge, to organizations that serve the hungry in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex counties. This year, we will deliver enough food to serve more than 5.5 million meals. ”
Table to Table is the only program of its kind in northeast New Jersey. Every day, the hunger relief agency collects fully cooked entrees, fresh produce and meats, dairy products and other perishables that would normally be discarded, and safely delivers them to soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other social service agencies in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.

For more information about Table to Table, call (201) 444-5500.