Food Waste & Feeding Families: Inside NJ’s Largest Food Rescue

Editor’s note: Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson appeared on Healthy In The Garden State’s “A Dose of Health” short-form series highlighting the people, places, and resources supporting physical, mental, and emotional well-being across New Jersey.

In this episode of “A Dose of Health, Kate Cherichello Tente sits down with Heather Thompson, Executive Director of Table to Table — New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization. With Earth Day right around the corner, this conversation highlights the powerful connection between environmental health and human health. Table to Table is on a mission to reduce food waste, lower harmful methane emissions, and deliver fresh, nutritious food to neighbors facing food insecurity across northern New Jersey.

In this minisode, Kate and Heather explore:

• What food rescue really means — and how it differs from a traditional food bank
• The reality of food insecurity in New Jersey
• How rescuing food helps combat climate change
• The innovative I-Rescue App and how you can get involved
• Volunteer opportunities for individuals, schools, and companies
• Programs like Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch
• What a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator really says about trust and impact
• Which NJ icon has given multiple shout-outs to Table to Table?

From mobile markets to community partnerships, this episode is a reminder that small actions can create big change — for our health, our communities, and our planet.

Whether you’re looking to volunteer, donate, or simply learn how to waste less, this is a conversation that matters.

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 276 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 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane.

Related:

• N.J. Wastes Billions of Pounds of Food as Families Go Hungry. That Can Change.
• Wayne Rotary to Make 2,000 Sandwich Meals for Passaic County Families in Need, Seeks Donations and Volunteers
• Landmark New Jersey Law Tees Up Aggressive Food Waste Goals
• Ridgewood Schools Help “Rescue” Food, Get It to Local Seniors