Waste Not, Want Not

About 40 percent of food in the United States gets thrown in the garbage. In New Jersey alone, that amounts to more than 3 billion pounds a year while nearly a million people in the state don’t have enough to eat.

Twenty-five years ago, Table to Table, the first nonprofit food-rescue organization in the state, was formed to help close this gap. Since 1999, it has supplied more than 311 million meals to the hungry.

Keeping food out of landfills, where it emits methane gas as it decays, is a win for the environment, too. Table to Table has protected the planet from more than 73,000 tons of global-warming gasses.

“When good food gets thrown in a dumpster instead of feeding the people who need it, that’s an injustice; it’s unacceptable,” says Heather Thomp­son, executive director of the Saddle Brook-based nonprofit.

Unlike most food pantries that ac­cept only nonperishable goods, Table to Table collects produce, meat, and dairy products. “These tend to get thrown away much more frequently,” Thomp­son says. “They’re also the most difficult and expensive to access, but the most critical for health and well-being.”

A fleet of six refrigerated trucks picks up food from 350-plus donors each week. Most comes from Hello Fresh’s Newark distribution center, large and small grocery stores and restaurants, and even schools with leftover lunch items. The donations are typically delivered the same day to hunger-relief organizations in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties.

Individuals help out by transport­ing smaller donations. The I-Rescue app posts rescue opportunities, and volunteers pick up and deliver the food on a one-time or regular basis. “We’ve been able to expand how we support the community by adding the app,”
Thompson says.

In 2023, Table to Table provided more than 23 million meals to neigh­bors in need. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the goal is to provide 25 million meals this year.

Find out how you can help by visiting tabletotable.org.

Credit: NJ Monthly Magazine