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Blogs About Table To Table Helping Neighbors

What foods are heart healthy? February is American Heart Month. It is a month dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Table to Table takes pride in rescuing fresh, nutritious heart-healthy fruits and vegetables, including apples, broccoli, and carrots from our hundreds of food donors.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the following foods are a part of a heart-healthy eating plan:

  • Vegetables such as leafy greens (spinach, collard greens, kale, cabbage), broccoli, and carrots
  • Fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears, grapes, and prunes
  • Whole grains such as plain oatmeal, brown rice, and whole-grain bread or tortillas
  • Fat-free or low-fat dairy foods such as milk, cheese, or yogurt
  • Protein-rich foods:
  • Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna, and trout)
  • Lean meats such as 95% lean ground beef or pork tenderloin or skinless chicken or turkey
  • Eggs
  • Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts
  • Seeds
  • Nut and seed butters
  • Legumes such as kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, and lima beans
  • Oils and foods high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats:
  • Canola, corn, olive, safflower, sesame, sunflower, and soybean oils (not coconut or palm oil)
  • Salmon and trout
  • Seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, or flax)
  • Avocados
  • Tofu

Read more about what we’re doing to rescue healthy surplus food and deliver it to our hungry neighbors.

As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue, our mission is to reduce food waste and provide nourishment to our food-insecure neighbors throughout North Jersey. We rescue millions of pounds of fresh, surplus food annually that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills. This rotting food emits methane gas, which contributes to climate change. We deliver this food to partner organizations who support the nearly 1.1 million people struggling with food insecurity in New Jersey.

Together, we can reduce food waste in our home and make a positive impact on the planet. Every little bit of effort —no matter how small — leads to change.

Related:

SNAP-Facts-Work-Requirements-ENG
SNAP-Facts-Work-Requirements-SPA

A new work requirement went into effect Sunday for recipients to receive benefits from the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The requirement is for recipients between 18 and 65 years old. Click here to learn more.

If You Or Someone You Know Needs Help Finding Food

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 303 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches 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. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Food insecurity in New Jersey is increasing, with one in 10 households experiencing the status between 2022 and 2024, a new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released recently shows.

“Household Food Security in the United States in 2024” provides state-level food insecurity prevalence rates, averaging data from 2022, 2023, and 2024. The New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (NJOFSA) featured New Jersey-centric findings of the report on its website.

According to the report, between 2022 and 2024:

  • One in 10 households, 9.8%, or about 350,000, experienced food insecurity in New Jersey, an increase from the 8.3% reported in 2019-2022
  • New Jersey recorded the fifth lowest prevalence of household food insecurity in the United States

Although New Jersey’s 9.8% rate of food insecurity is below the national average of 13.3%, “any amount, and increases to, food insecurity is unsuitable for a state with our strong resources, partnerships, and commitment to ensuring food security for all,” the NJOFSA said in an update on its website.

What Is Food Insecurity?

There are two classifications of food insecurity, according to the USDA. One type is when there are “reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet,” but there is “little or no indication of reduced food intake.” The other, more serious type, is when there are “reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.”

The USDA published its food security report for 30 years before announcing that the 2025 report would be its last one, calling the report and study behind it, “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous.” It was originally created to support the increase and eligibility of families and individuals to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.

The NJOFSA said the report served as an “essential public resource for tracking trends and evaluating progress in food security,” providing the “most consistent national and state level data on household food insecurity.

“It grounds research, informs policy decisions, and helps advocates, agencies, and communities identify where people may struggle to afford enough food.”

As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue, our mission is to reduce food waste and provide nourishment to our food-insecure neighbors throughout North Jersey. We rescue millions of pounds of fresh food annually that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills, contributing to climate change. We deliver it to partner organizations who support the nearly 1.1 million people in our area who need it most.

Together, we can reduce food waste in our home and make a positive impact on the planet. Every little bit of effort — no matter how small — leads to change.

Related:

Kaleb Lohmann is Table to Table’s December Volunteer Spotlight.

“Food waste while people go hungry in the richest nation in the world is senseless and cruel. I’ve always wanted to help ease suffering in the world, but depression, anxiety, and other health issues stopped me from committing long-term. The Table to Table I-Rescue App is extremely convenient and lets you volunteer in short time frames when and where you want to, like UberEats for those in need. It’s so easy that I’ve been able to complete over 100 rescues in 13 months,” Kaleb said. “Volunteering eases food insecurity, reduces landfill waste and emissions, combats the helplessness so often felt when reading the news, and helps me gain confidence for future employment. It has truly changed my life over the past year, and I couldn’t be more grateful!”

Volunteering Like Kaleb Does

Signing up to be a Table to Table volunteer is easy. Julie Kinner, Table to Table’s Vice President of Operations, said all you have to do is download the Table to Table I-Rescue App, powered by Food Rescue Hero, on your phone to become a food rescue hero! You’ll complete a simple registration process and volunteer agreement, and then you can get started. The app walks you through every step! This is what Kaleb uses.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to volunteer with our food rescue program. However, the driver must have a valid driver’s license, and a valid vehicle registration and insurance. 

Since we launched, more than 350 volunteers have completed more than 9,600 rescues and delivered more than 2 million pounds of donated food that would have been thrown away.

As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue, our mission is to reduce food waste and provide nourishment to our food-insecure neighbors throughout North Jersey. We rescue millions of pounds of fresh food annually that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills, contributing to climate change. We deliver it to partner organizations who support the nearly 1 million people in our area who need it most.

Together, we can reduce food waste in our home and make a positive impact on the planet. Every little bit of effort — no matter how small — leads to change.

Deacon Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta co-founded the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program.

Table to Table Food Rescue Hero Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta was named a Hometown Hero by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District Monday. Stephanie co-founded the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program, which helps provide veterans and families access to healthy food. She helps run a weekly food distribution with Table to Table in Englewood Cliffs.

“Deacon Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta is a leader whose life is defined by faith, service, and compassion. She co-founded the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program, providing mentorship, food access, and support to families and veterans in need,” Rep. Gottheimer’s office said in a news release. “Through programs that empower young women and girls, she creates spaces where youth feel seen and supported. Recently ordained, she continues offering pastoral care and crisis support across North Jersey. Her work has fed thousands and strengthened countless families.”

Congratulations, Stephanie!

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 303 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches 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. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Food security exists when all people, at all times have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Why food insecurity occurs is an issue with no easy answer, but the response to it is one that has fueled our 26-year mission: People need regular access to healthy, nutritious food.

The problem of food insecurity in New Jersey is a complex issue. Estimates are that nearly 3 billion pounds of food are wasted annually in the Garden State while 1.1 million residents, including 270,000 children, experience food insecurity. Determining the root causes of this widespread issue is also complex.

The New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA) partnered with the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact to develop and implement a set of measures framed around the six dimensions of food security: Stability, utilization, access, agency, availability, and sustainability. OFSA recently published a report outlining what it found to be the reasons why food insecurity occurs. This data collection initiative informs the OFSA’s strategic planning efforts to ultimately guide cross-sector collaboration and policy development regarding food insecurity throughout New Jersey. Also, findings can serve as a baseline from which future progress can be measured.

The full report is embedded here:

Exploring-the-Six-Dimensions-of-Food-Security-in-New-Jersey_October-2025

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 303 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches 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. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Editor’s note: This story originally aired on News 12 New Jersey. Click here for the story.

News 12 New Jersey ran a story about our food rescue partnership with the Bloomfield School District.

News 12 rode along with our Executive Director Heather Thompson as she rescued food from Watsessing Elementary School and brought it to a local food pantry.

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 303 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches 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. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

New Jersey awarded $1.2 million in grants to 36 institutions of higher education to combat food insecurity on their campuses. The grants will support campus-based resources, including food pantries and outreach connecting students with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The grants were awarded through the Hunger-Free Campus Act. Through the program, institutions achieve a Hunger-Free designation and work to address student hunger through a Campus Hunger Task Force, a physical campus food pantry, and awareness raising initiatives, the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education said in a press release.

This round of awardees reflects the grant’s widest reach since being created in 2019, with 90% of all public colleges and universities and 57% of eligible independent public-mission institutions receiving funding. In total, the state has invested $6.4 million over the last six years to address food insecurity among college students under the Act.

“These awards are the latest example of New Jersey’s investment in making food security a reality for everyone, everywhere. For college students to get help completing school meal applications for their children or applying for SNAP, being welcomed to use donated meal credits or shop for their households, means alleviating the stress that can derail their studies,” said Mark Dinglasan, executive director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate.

Grant awards for fiscal year 2026 are:

Atlantic Cape Community College$52,500
Bergen Community College$27,500
Brookdale Community College$17,500
Camden County College$27,500
Centenary University$27,500
County College of Morris$17,500
Drew University$17,500
Essex County College$52,500
Fairleigh Dickinson University$17,500
Felician University$52,500
Georgian Court University$27,500
Hudson County Community College$52,500
Kean University$52,500
Mercer County Community College$27,500
Middlesex College$27,500
Monmouth University$27,500
Montclair State University$52,500
New Jersey City University$52,500
New Jersey Institute of Technology$52,500
Ocean County College$17,500
Ramapo College$17,500
Raritan Valley Community College$27,500
Rowan College at Burlington County$27,500
Rowan College of South Jersey$27,500
Rowan University$27,500
Rutgers University, Camden$52,500
Rutgers University, New Brunswick$17,496
Rutgers University, Newark$52,500
Saint Peters University$52,500
Salem Community College$27,500
Stevens Institute of Technology$17,500
Stockton University$27,500
Sussex County Community College$27,500
The College of New Jersey$17,500
Union College of Union County, New Jersey$27,500
William Paterson University$52,504

OSHE applied a new equity-focused distribution model that considered each institution’s percentage of eligible students to reach those experiencing the greatest need and to respond following disruptions to those students receiving SNAP benefits. Findings from OSHE’s Spring 2025 Student Food Security Survey of 11,877 students show that half of Pell Grant-receiving respondents were food insecure. The survey also found:

  • Food insecurity among college students persists, affecting 36% of all student respondents and 50% of first-generation students.
  • Nearly half (45%) of students had difficulty affording balanced meals.
  • Even with lifeline federal assistance programs, 65% of students receiving SNAP and other federal assistance (TANF, WIC) reported experiencing food insecurity.

Related:

By Nicolle Walker

Thanksgiving is a time to slow down, reconnect with family and friends, and savor dishes that many of us don’t make the rest of the year.

The feelings of nostalgia surrounding this time of year can lead to overindulgence, but that doesn’t mean you need to eat that same plate of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce over and over.

If you are looking for new ways to enjoy your leftovers, look no further:

Stuffing Waffles

  • Spray your waffle maker well and place 1 cup of room-temperature stuffing in each section, close, and cook until crispy and browned
  • Top with leftover cranberry sauce or gravy and enjoy

Breakfast Burritos

  • Wrap turkey, stuffing, a couple scrambled eggs and a splash of gravy in a flour tortilla
  • Heat a pan over medium high heat and spray with a touch of oil
  • Lay burritos seam side down and let cook for 4-5 minutes or until golden, flip carefully and brown the top side
  • Enjoy dipped in extra cranberry sauce

Stuffing Strata

Stuffing Strata is the perfect morning after breakfast.

  • Before heading off to bed combine leftover stuffing with shredded turkey or ham any roasted veggies, eggs, & cream, and a healthy sprinkle of cheese.
  • Cover and let sit in the fridge overnight, then bake covered at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes for a hearty breakfast that everyone will love. 

Potato Soup

Mashed potatoes almost never last in my house, but if you find yourself with extras, try making a pot of potato soup!

  • Bring your mashed potatoes to room temperature, then combine them in a pot with your choice of chicken or vegetable broth and whisk. Start with equal amounts of potatoes and broth, then thin until you find your desired consistency.
  • Serve with shredded cheddar, sliced scallions, maybe some crumbled bacon, and of course a turkey sandwich! 

These are just a few ideas about transforming Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious meals! Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Editor’s note: Nicolle Walker is a volunteer with Table to Table and a member of our Emerging Leaders Council. She is the executive chef and owner of Love & Plates in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Related:

Table to Table helped transport thousands of Thanksgiving turkeys, chickens, and meal kits from HelloFresh, a longtime food donor partner, to Newark residents in partnership with the City of Newark this week, continuing a tradition that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HelloFresh donated 2,000 turkeys and 6,000 boxes of fresh food, including potatoes, cranberries, apples, and carrots, along with step-by-step instructions so residents could prepare the complete Thanksgiving dinner.

“As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, we are honored to be part of this effort to ensure that even more of our neighbors have fresh, nourishing, delicious food for the holidays this year,” said Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson. “Everyone deserves a good meal and when we work together, we can ensure that our neighbors have enough all year around.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said he was “grateful” for HelloFresh’s continued commitment to the greater Newark community.

The event marked a milestone for HelloFresh’s Meals With Meaning program, which has distributed 3 million fresh meals to Newark families since its launch in 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Related: Newark Celebrates 2 Millionth Meal Distribution Milestone With HelloFresh

“Thanksgiving is especially meaningful in Newark because we are a city that comes together to give,” Baraka said. “I wish everyone in Newark a happy Thanksgiving.”

Table to Table has long partnered with HelloFresh to distribute fresh meal kits containing vegetables, fruits, and other healthy selections in the Ironbound section of Newark and other locations.

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 303 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches 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. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

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