Category: Media

New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, Table to Table, is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State for its program, “Food Rescue Heroes: Bridging the Gap Between Food Waste & Food Insecurity.”

The funding will allow the Saddle Brook food rescue nonprofit, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, to expand its mission of rescuing food, reducing waste and relieving hunger into Morris County, adding to its existing footprint of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties.

Food rescue efforts from this grant will be supported by Table to Table I-Rescue, the nonprofit’s popular volunteer-based app powered by Food Rescue Hero.

“We are over the moon with excitement and incredibly grateful to the generous members of Impact100 Garden State for choosing to make this investment in Table to Table’s mission,” Heather Thompson, executive director, Table to Table, said. “We are eager to spread our wings into Morris County with our Table to Table I-Rescue App, and we look forward to welcoming Morris County partners and volunteers to our Table to Table family.”

Impact100 Garden State, an all-women, all-volunteer organization, pools member contributions to make high-impact grants. The collective giving group has donated more than $3.5 million to area nonprofits since it began grant-giving in 2013. This year, a record membership of 408 women allowed Impact100 Garden State to give four $100,000 grants for the first time.

Debbie Seme, president of Impact100 Garden State, said Impact100 Garden State was thrilled to support the essential work of Table to Table and to continue its mission of making a significant impact in the communities.

Credit: https://www.roi-nj.com/2024/06/14/lifestyle/food-hospitality/table-to-table-receives-100k-grant-from-impact100-garden-state/

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, has received a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State for its program, Food Rescue Heroes: Bridging the Gap Between Food Waste & Food Insecurity.

The funding will allow the food rescue nonprofit, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, to expand its mission of rescuing food, reducing waste, and relieving hunger into Morris County, adding to its existing footprint of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties. Food rescue efforts for this grant will be supported by Table to Table I-Rescue, the nonprofit’s popular volunteer-based app powered by Food Rescue Hero.

“We are over the moon with excitement and incredibly grateful to the generous members of Impact100 Garden State for choosing to make this investment in Table to Table’s mission,” said Heather Thompson, Executive Director, Table to Table. “We are eager to spread our wings into Morris County with our Table to Table I-Rescue App, and we look forward to welcoming Morris County partners and volunteers to our Table to Table family,” Thompson concluded.

Impact100 Garden State, an all-women, all-volunteer organization, pools member contributions to make high-impact grants. The collective giving group has donated more than $3.5 million to area nonprofits since it began grant-giving in 2013. This year, a record membership of 408 women allowed Impact100 Garden State to give four $100,000 grants for the first time.

Debbie Seme, President of Impact100 Garden State, said “Impact100 Garden State is thrilled to support the essential work of Table to Table and to continue our mission of making a significant impact in our communities. Our members are an energetic, caring, and remarkable group of women who have the opportunity to learn so much about the needs in our communities and to make a difference every year through our Impact100 Garden State grants. Congratulations, Table to Table!”

For 25 years, Table to Table has bridged the gap for local neighbors in need by reducing food waste, sustaining those who are struggling, and contributing to their better health outcomes.

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 their milestone anniversary, 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.

Credit: https://njbmagazine.com/njb-news-now/table-to-table-receives-a-100k-grant-from-impact100-garden-state/

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Every Friday after school, a group of middle school students at Newark Academy in Livingston wash their hands, put on gloves, tie their hair back, and gather, package, and label an assortment of unused food from their school cafeteria. This surplus is donated to Table to Table, a food rescue program that delivers fresh foods to organizations that serves the hungry in Essex and three other northern New Jersey counties.

This mission was first started in April of 2023 by five students who were the in sixth grade – Ashlyn Wolfe, Rhea Vasovada, Nilya Damodaran, Ava Lavian, and Julie Neu. It began with a simple observation of wasted food in trash bins, a stark contrast to the hunger plaguing many communities.

“We saw excess food in the cafeteria garbage containers, and we thought this could be eaten by other people,” said Ashlyn. “We thought of donating the food.”

But first, they had to find an organization to partner with. They looked to find organizations that would take the food and give it to people in need, and found Table to Table.

They also had to pitch their plan to the school’s food service provider, Sage. “We made a presentation to them about what we wanted and how we would work with them and Table to Table to make it happen,” explained Rhea. Ever since, Sage has set aside surplus meals and foods each week for the students to pack and donate.

The founders’ passion soon spread to their peers. For sixth-grader Hannah Lazer, it’s about empathy and equity.

“It’s important that we donate to people who are less fortunate than a lot of us here,” she said.

Ashleen Callahan, also in sixth grade, recognized the project’s power to unite.

“It brings the community closer together. We get a chance to give back for everything we have,” she said.

The students are also committed to environmental stewardship by rescuing food destined for landfills.

They seamlessly and efficiently pack the leftover foods, which this week included asparagus, macaroni salad, grilled cheese, spinach and tofu, breads and bagels, and meat sauce; and store them all in tall racks before rolling the racks outside to a delivery vehicle.

“We’re making a dent raising the level of consciousness, providing these kids leadership opportunity, and they get it, they know what they have to do,” said advisor Debra Tavares. “They’re hard workers. And they feel good about what they’re doing, they understand the significance.”

During a recent Friday event, Table to Table’s director, Heather Thompson, told the Newark Academy students how inspiring she found them.

“The food you are packing today is going to a food pantry in Orange, not so far away, and they do a food distribution that reaches more than 1,500 people,” Thompson said. A lot of times when families go to food pantries, they get canned food, cereal, pasta, beans, Thompson added.

“Those things are important, but they don’t get a lot of fresh food, and deliciously made food, like this. You guys are doing a lot of good,” she said. “(If) we could do this in every school, just think how much food we could provide.”

The volunteers suggested inviting neighboring school s to see the food donation program, and said they would like to help them start similar programs at their schools.

Tavares, along with Newark Academy sustainability teacher Rachael Reeves and the students, are already looking into next steps. To begin, the students will present the program data a middle school environmental club meeting.

How many people did the food they collected that one Friday feed? “With 19 trays and two huge bags of greens, it will probably provide fresh, healthy meals for more than 100 to 150 people,” said Thompson.

Not bad for leftovers.

Credit: https://publisher.etype.services/West-Essex-Tribune

Funding Will Help the Nonprofit Expand its Food Rescue Efforts into Morris County

June 12, 2024 Saddle Brook, NJ – – Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, is the proud recipient of a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State for its program, Food Rescue Heroes: Bridging the Gap Between Food Waste & Food Insecurity. The generous funding will allow the food rescue nonprofit, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, to expand its mission of rescuing food, reducing waste, and relieving hunger into Morris County, adding to its existing footprint of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties. Food rescue efforts for this grant will be supported by Table to Table I-Rescue, the nonprofit’s popular volunteer-based app powered by Food Rescue Hero. To volunteer to become a Food Rescue Hero, simply download the Table to Table I-Rescue App by click here.

“We are over the moon with excitement and incredibly grateful to the generous members of Impact100 Garden State for choosing to make this investment in Table to Table’s mission,” said Heather Thompson, Executive Director, Table to Table. “We are eager to spread our wings into Morris County with our Table to Table I-Rescue App, and we look forward to welcoming Morris County partners and volunteers to our Table to Table family,” Thompson concluded.

Impact100 Garden State, an all-women, all-volunteer organization, pools member contributions to make high-impact grants. The collective giving group has donated more than $3.5 million to area nonprofits since it began grant-giving in 2013. This year, a record membership of 408 women allowed Impact100 Garden State to give four $100,000 grants for the first time.

Debbie Seme, President of Impact100 Garden State, said “Impact100 Garden State is thrilled to support the essential work of Table to Table and to continue our mission of making a significant impact in our communities. Our members are an energetic, caring, and remarkable group of women who have the opportunity to learn so much about the needs in our communities and to make a difference every year through our Impact100 Garden State grants. Congratulations, Table to Table!”

To help Table to Table in their mission to reduce food waste and address food insecurity in New Jersey, you can become a Food Rescue Hero by downloading the Table to Table I-Rescue App, offer your skills to volunteer in a variety of ways, or make a donation. Every dollar you contribute provides sources for the organization to rescue and deliver food for 10 healthy meals. For more information on Table to Table, visit www.tabletotable.org.

For 25 years, Table to Table has bridged the gap for local neighbors in need by reducing food waste, sustaining those who are struggling, and contributing to their better health outcomes. We recognize the vital role that fresh food plays in nourishing not only the body, but also the spirit and mind. At the same time, keeping quality food out of landfills creates a positive environmental impact.

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 their milestone anniversary, 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 Drive for 25 for fun, easy and actionable ways to celebrate and drive impact!

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org), NJ’s first food rescue organization, collects fresh and perishable food that 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 work, we touch 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.

Credit: https://patch.com/new-jersey/easthanover-florhampark/classifieds/announcements/452936/table-to-table-nj-s-first-food-rescue-receives-a-100-000-grant-from-impact100-garden-state