Record Breaking Year for Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch Program  Top Participants and Winners Announced  

Fall 2013 proved to be an extraordinary season for Table to Table’s 8th annual “Bag a Lunch, Help a  Bunch” campaign.  The one day initiative, which encourages businesses, schools and individuals in the community to donate the money they would normally spend on lunch to help feed their hungry neighbors, exceeded all previous year records by 50%.  Corporate support of the program was led by Presenting Sponsor, Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets and Grand Sponsors Becton Dickinson The Record and Honda of Tenafly. Over 2.5 million meals will be delivered as a result of the cooperative efforts of all who participated.

This year’s top five earning companies/schools were announced on Monday. They included The Medicines Company, Parsippany; Takasago International, Rockleigh; Paramus Catholic High School,  Paramus; Bogert School, Upper Saddle River and Hartz Mountain, Secaucus.

Each will have their logo displayed on a Table to Table truck and the winning team captains will be awarded a $150 gift certificate.  In a new twist this year, donors of $50 or more became eligible for a prize drawing for four VIP tickets to a current Broadway show. Sponsored by American Airlines, the prize went to Brian Healy of Ridgewood. Executive Director Ilene Isaacs noted, “Bag a Lunch has become a much anticipated and beloved program in our community, addressing the continuously growing needs of our hungry neighbors while rallying the community in friendly competition.” 

Ms. Isaacs continued, “each year we are inspired by the unique ways Bag a Lunch is embraced by those participating, each defining and promoting it in a way that will be most meaningful to their particular group.”  Among the many uplifting stories coming from the program this year was that of Saddle River middle school student Gabriella Raia, who spearheaded the initiative in three schools simultaneously, and produced her own video as a marketing tool to engage students and encourage participation.

The funds raised through Bag a Lunch could not come at a better time.  The organization is just a few weeks away from exceeding the projected 2013 goal of rescuing 11 million meals and this money will be used to directly support the food collection and delivery process.        

Table to Table is the only dedicated food rescue program in northeast New Jersey, serving over 70 hunger relief agencies throughout Bergen, Essex, Passaic and Hudson counties.  Table to Table receives no government funding and instead, relies solely on support from private and corporate donations. 

 For press inquiries: contact Brooke Perry at bhperry230@gmail.com