Table to Table Recognizes Harrison Elementary School with the Award for Student Philanthropy

Funds Raised Help Reduce Food Waste and Deliver Enough Food for 14,600 Meals to Food Insecure Neighbors

Saddle River, NJ February 8, 2024 — Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, recognizes the students at Harrison Elementary School in Livingston, NJ with the 2023 Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy in support of Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch initiative, which invites participants to donate what they would spend on lunch for a day, week, month or more to help Table to Table reduce food waste and feed those who need it most.

“The power harnessed by these Harrison Elementary students to be true community heroes – reducing food waste, while also feeding thousands of New Jersey neighbors facing food insecurity – is nothing short of incredible,” said Heather Thompson, Executive Director, Table to Table. “With this impressive level of community leadership, the future is truly bright. Table to Table is thrilled to recognize their tremendous efforts with the 2023 Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy,” Thompson concluded.

Through the kindness of The Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation, a challenge grant of $30,000 among all Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch participating schools in Northern NJ was established. Of the dozens of schools that participated in 2023, Harrison Elementary School was the top fundraiser. The funds they raised will rescue and deliver enough food for 14,600healthymeals for those in need throughout Northern NJ. That number, along with funds raised by the other schools, was generously doubled by the Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation.

“Preserving the environment and reducing food insecurity are two incredibly important issues to the students of Harrison Elementary and the reason we have been an ongoing supporter of Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch,” said Ms. Sara Calabrese, co-advisor for student council and a teacher at Harrison Elementary School.

“Our Student Council played a critical role in mobilizing the student body to support the program. The results are impressive, and we are all honored to be recognized for our efforts,” added Ms. Stephanie Siu, co-advisor for student council and teacher at Harrison Elementary School.

Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch is made possible by generous sponsors includingPresenting Sponsors: BD andInserra Supermarkets; Gold Sponsor: Kearny Bank; Silver Sponsors: Aspen, Cross River Bank, Firmenich Charitable Foundation, Takasago and The Children’s Place; Bronze Sponsors: DoorDash, Freedom Bank, Movado, and PNC Bank.

To help Table to Table in their mission to reduce food waste and address food insecurity in New Jersey, Donate Now! For more information on Table to Table, visit us at www.tabletotable.org.

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org), NJ’s first food rescue organization, collects fresh and perishable food which 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, we touch 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. Table to Table raises all its own funds annually, and last year delivered enough food to provide over 23 million meals.

Press Contact:

Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing Communications

917-532-6148 msinopoli@tabletotable.org