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School Food Waste Expert and Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson

Editor’s note: The following experts first appeared in an article by The Montclair Girl. Read the full article here.

And just like that, 2025 comes to a close. This year was filled with an influx of exciting new businesses in the area and innovative entrepreneurs and creatives shining a light on the community. To mark the end of an eventful year and to welcome the new one, The Montclair Girl is highlighting 26 local women doing great things to keep an eye on in 2026. Read on for a list of 26 women in Montclair + North Jersey to watch in 2025.

Heather Thompson, Director, Table to Table

Heather Thompson is the director of Table to Table, New Jersey’s statewide food rescue program. The program collects fresh, nutritious, perishable food and connects it with neighbors in need through its 303 community partners in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic counties.

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 303 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 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Deacon Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta co-founded the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program.

Table to Table Food Rescue Hero Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta was named a Hometown Hero by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District Monday. Stephanie co-founded the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program, which helps provide veterans and families access to healthy food. She helps run a weekly food distribution with Table to Table in Englewood Cliffs.

“Deacon Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta is a leader whose life is defined by faith, service, and compassion. She co-founded the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program, providing mentorship, food access, and support to families and veterans in need,” Rep. Gottheimer’s office said in a news release. “Through programs that empower young women and girls, she creates spaces where youth feel seen and supported. Recently ordained, she continues offering pastoral care and crisis support across North Jersey. Her work has fed thousands and strengthened countless families.”

Congratulations, Stephanie!

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 303 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 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Table to Table's annual Chefs Gala was Oct. 9 at Edgewood Country Club. Chef Christian Petroni was the chef honoree.

Editor’s note: The following article first appeared in (201) MAGAZINE’s December 2025 issue on page 47.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, welcomed to its 2025 Chefs Gala more than 25 notable chefs who personally served their signature multi-course menus tableside for guests.

Shining in the spotlight was this year’s honoree, Christian Petroni, the Italian American chef, restaurateur, author and Food Network star. Table to Table’s Chefs Gala raised enough funds to reduce food waste and deliver nearly 5 million nutritious meals to our neighbors in need.

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 303 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 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

TRENTON, NJ – The Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today announced the winners of the 26th annual Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, New Jersey’s premier awards program that recognizes outstanding environmental achievements, programs and projects across the state. The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Historic Masonic Temple in Trenton.

“On behalf of the Governor, DEP and the I-Bank are proud to honor all of this year’s awardees for their spirited dedication to protecting the environment we all share and the health of our communities,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said. “Their passion and dedication serve as an inspiration to us all and exemplifies why New Jersey is a national leader in environmental protection.”

The annual awards are given to individuals, businesses, organizations and communities that make exceptional efforts to protect the environment and advance solutions across diverse environmental matters, including environmental justice, climate change, sustainability and education. Deputy Commissioner Kati Angarone and I-Bank Executive Director David Zimmer presented the awards.

Richard J. Sullivan Award

Named for New Jersey’s first Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Richard J. Sullivan Award is given to a person who demonstrates exceptional leadership and outstanding accomplishments in safeguarding public health and protecting and enhancing the state’s environment and resources.

This year’s Sullivan Award was given to Joseph Seebode, Deputy District Engineer for the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who has dedicated more than 35 years to advancing coastal resilience, environmental restoration and sustainable water management.

Seebode’s leadership helped guide post-Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts and other major projects such as the deepening of the Port of New York and New Jersey. A lifelong steward of waterways, Seebode exemplifies collaboration, innovation, and dedication to making the region safer, more resilient, and environmentally sound.

2025 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award Winners

James J. Florio Emerging Environmental Leader: Landon Hoberman

Landon Hoberman is the founder of the Student Environmental Ambassador (SEA) Program, a youth-led initiative empowering students to reduce plastic waste and promote civic engagement. Since 2023, SEA has reached more than 50,000 students with over 725 ambassadors across 14 states and three countries. Through initiatives like #reducebyrequest, SEA has prevented over 1.8 million single-use utensils from entering the environment, saved local restaurants more than $45,000, and inspired state legislation.

Climate Change Mitigation: Duke Farms

Duke Farms, a 2,700-acre center of the Doris Duke Foundation, is transforming its campus through its Natural Systems Energy Project to sharply reduce emissions and sequester carbon through reforestation and natural climate solutions. The project also includes a new solar energy system for powering the campus and aims to support an 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2030.

Climate Resilience: City of Newark Office of Sustainability, Resilience & Community Transformation

The City of Newark Office of Sustainability, Resilience & Community Transformation leads initiatives to enhance climate resilience, focusing on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. In the past year, the office expanded its “Beat the Heat” campaign and implemented urban cooling strategies including tree planting, pocket parks, and cool roof projects.

Environmental Justice: Montclair State University PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies

The Montclair State University PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies’ Green Teams Internship Program empowers diverse student teams to support communities facing disproportionate climate impacts. In 2025, ten teams partnered with nonprofits and municipalities—including Newark, Paterson, Montclair, and West Orange — to deliver projects that improved air and water quality, expanded tree canopies, strengthened food security, and advanced nature-based flood and heat resilience measures.

Healthy Communities: Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC)

ANJEC empowers New Jersey communities to protect natural resources and promote healthy, resilient environments. In the past year, ANJEC advanced this work through the restoration of the Parvin-Tarkiln Watershed in Vineland, adding tree pits, rain gardens, and riparian buffers that enhance local water quality and stormwater management.

Healthy Ecosystems and Habitats: Hunters Helping the Hungry

Hunters Helping the Hungry is a nonprofit organization that connects deer hunters, inspected processors, and food banks to provide venison to families in need. The organization supports responsible deer management that restores forest health, protects biodiversity, and strengthens food security. Recently, partnerships with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and New Jersey Farm Bureau eliminated processing fees and increased processor payments, boosting deer donations and meal distribution statewide.

Sustainability and Waste Reduction: Table to Table

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, delivers surplus fresh food to those in need. In the past year alone, the organization rescued more than 23 million pounds of food and expanded its data-driven network to reach the most food-insecure areas. Since its founding, Table to Table has prevented more than 240 million pounds of food waste and significantly reduced methane emissions.

Watershed Management and Water Resources: PolyGone Systems (in partnership with Atlantic County Utilities Authority)

PolyGone Systems, a Princeton University spinoff cleantech company, is pioneering technology to remove microplastics from waterways. In partnership with the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, PolyGone launched the world’s first municipal-scale microplastic removal pilot in 2024 and successfully captured millions of microplastic particles from wastewater.

Environmental Education: Erin Colfax, Unity Charter School

Erin Colfax is a Science Integrationist at Unity Charter School in Morristown and brings sustainability to life through hands-on, inquiry-based science education for grades K–8. Colfax engages students in real-world projects like water quality monitoring and biodiversity studies and led a project to transform the school’s lower field into a living classroom that deepens environmental literacy and stewardship.

About the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards

The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards has been New Jersey’s premier environmental awards program since 2000. The DEP, New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology sponsor the program.

A panel of judges evaluate nominations for their impact on the environment, actions to address the needs of New Jersey, leadership and innovation, and use of outreach and educational activities to make an impact in their community. To learn more about the program, visit dep.nj.gov/awards.

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About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org) is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We work with food businesses of all types to rescue fresh, nutritious surplus food, and deliver it for free to 300+ social service organizations, pantries, shelters, community produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Through our community partnerships, Table to Table reaches families, children, veterans, older adults, and others in need, improving food security, nutritional access, and better health. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 120,700 tons of nutritious food — enough for 241,400,846 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, while also saving over 544 metric tons of methane from impacting climate change by preventing food waste.

Editor’s note: Food journalist, podcaster, and chef Cara Di Falco interviewed Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson. It debuted Dec. 2 on Cara’s YouTube channel.

Cara Di Falco interviewed Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson about SNAP benefits, Table to Table’s charity work, how people can make a difference and volunteer, and how individuals and families can find community support if they need assistance.

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 303 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 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

By Nicolle Walker

Thanksgiving is a time to slow down, reconnect with family and friends, and savor dishes that many of us don’t make the rest of the year.

The feelings of nostalgia surrounding this time of year can lead to overindulgence, but that doesn’t mean you need to eat that same plate of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce over and over.

If you are looking for new ways to enjoy your leftovers, look no further:

Stuffing Waffles

  • Spray your waffle maker well and place 1 cup of room-temperature stuffing in each section, close, and cook until crispy and browned
  • Top with leftover cranberry sauce or gravy and enjoy

Breakfast Burritos

  • Wrap turkey, stuffing, a couple scrambled eggs and a splash of gravy in a flour tortilla
  • Heat a pan over medium high heat and spray with a touch of oil
  • Lay burritos seam side down and let cook for 4-5 minutes or until golden, flip carefully and brown the top side
  • Enjoy dipped in extra cranberry sauce

Stuffing Strata

Stuffing Strata is the perfect morning after breakfast.

  • Before heading off to bed combine leftover stuffing with shredded turkey or ham any roasted veggies, eggs, & cream, and a healthy sprinkle of cheese.
  • Cover and let sit in the fridge overnight, then bake covered at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes for a hearty breakfast that everyone will love. 

Potato Soup

Mashed potatoes almost never last in my house, but if you find yourself with extras, try making a pot of potato soup!

  • Bring your mashed potatoes to room temperature, then combine them in a pot with your choice of chicken or vegetable broth and whisk. Start with equal amounts of potatoes and broth, then thin until you find your desired consistency.
  • Serve with shredded cheddar, sliced scallions, maybe some crumbled bacon, and of course a turkey sandwich! 

These are just a few ideas about transforming Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious meals! Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Editor’s note: Nicolle Walker is a volunteer with Table to Table and a member of our Emerging Leaders Council. She is the executive chef and owner of Love & Plates in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Related:

The amount of discarded food equals 267 million meals: ReFED

A new analysis estimates that 320 million pounds of food worth $550 million will be thrown away on Thanksgiving. That discarded food equals 267 million meals that could have gone to help feed our hungry neighbors. This is about the same amount of food ReFED estimated was wasted last Thanksgiving.

ReFED, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending loss and waste across the food ecosystem, and NielsenIQ, published their findings of a survey conducted in October.

A major reason for the waste is that more than 90 percent of Thanksgiving hosts intentionally prepare more food that is needed for their Thanksgiving gathering, according to ReFED. What is troubling is that nearly half of all hosts surveyed said they are not concerned about food waste around the holidays. Additionally, 12% of hosts, who feed 36 million people, according to the survey, do not plan to manage their leftovers in any specific way.

The breakdown of what is done with those leftovers covers a wide variety of options:

  • 45% send guests home with food
  • 46% make sandwiches or wraps
  • 32% eat it for breakfast or brunch
  • 31% make new meals like casseroles or soups

In New Jersey, officials estimate that 1.1 million residents are food insecure.

As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue, Table to Table’s mission is to reduce food waste by rescuing nutritious food and deliver it to our food-insecure neighbors throughout northern New Jersey. We rescue millions of pounds of fresh food annually that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills. This contributes to climate change. We deliver it to partner organizations who support the nearly 1 million people in our area who need it most.

Together, we can reduce food waste in our home and make a positive impact on the planet. Every little bit of effort—no matter how small—leads to change. Join us. Become a food rescue hero by downloading the Table to Table I-Rescue app. Claim a rescue, pick the food up, and deliver it to a local nonprofit. Most rescues take less than 1 hour.

By Executive Director Heather Thompson

Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,

I am writing to you on a truly somber note as the looming food insecurity crisis draws near. At this very moment, food pantries and emergency food providers across New Jersey are facing growing and unprecedented demand as the ongoing federal shutdown delays SNAP benefits. Based on what we know now, beginning on November 1 over 800,000 New Jersey residents – families with children; working folks like teachers and restaurant servers; senior citizens and veterans – will not have their SNAP cards filled until further notice.

As a result, lines at pantries are already growing longer by the day – and our 300+ community partners are reaching out to us every day, desperate for more fresh food to support the growing need.

Rescuing and delivering free, surplus food to communities in need is Table to Table’s core mission and daily work. And as need spikes in our communities, we are doubling down. Our drivers are working overtime, picking up surplus fresh food from farms, distributors, meal kit companies, and supermarkets. Our devoted ‘Food Rescue Hero’ volunteers are running rescues 7 days a week to pick up food from local markets, cafeterias, and restaurants, and delivering directly to nearby partners.

Everyone can play a role to rescue food and feed our neighbors during this time – including you.

Every single dollar you donate provides the resources to rescue and deliver food for another 10 meals. A donation of $344 funds a refrigerated truck and driver for a full day, rescuing enough fresh food for thousands of meals. If you are in a position to give, please know that your gift will go to work immediately to feed neighbors right here in New Jersey.

Donate

And, there are plenty of other ways you can get involved:

Individuals and Families

Volunteer
Host a Food Drive
Donate

Corporations and Community/Civic Organizations

  • Rally your employees/members to volunteer for a food distribution, an I-Rescue App takeover, or a day of making bagged meals
  • Make a contribution or organize an employee giving campaign
  • Host a produce or turkey drive        
Become a Partner

Food Businesses and Restaurants

  • Connect with us to donate surplus food to community partners – we’ll pick up from your location for free, and safely deliver to a nearby pantry or shelter
  • If you’re planning to offer free food or meals for your neighbors during this time, we’re happy to help transport and distribute
Donate Food

Schools

  • Host a produce or turkey drive (if you’ve already hosted one – THANK YOU!)
  • Connect with us for cafeteria rescues
Partner With Us

Our primary focus is rescuing surplus food from our network of food donors and delivering it to our community partners.

Our Executive Director Heather Thompson and Vice President of Operations Julie Kinner participated in a panel discussion “Beyond the Delivery: Working Hand in Hand with our Community Partners” at Food Rescue Hero’s annual Food Rescue Conference 2025. They discussed how we’re building community through our food rescue work in northern New Jersey.

Leland Scales from 412 Food Rescue was also a member of the panel.

Related:

November 1 is around the corner, and over 800,000 NJ residents do not know whether their SNAP cards will be refilled.  

The federal government shutdown could impact hundreds of thousands of working folks, families with children, veterans, and senior citizens here in New Jersey who rely on SNAP to get food on the table.   

Coupled with furloughs for military and government workers, rising healthcare and housing costs, and ongoing inflation, more and more of our neighbors are facing unprecedented strain – and they are turning to their local food pantries for help. 

Especially with the holidays coming, we are working seven days a week to supply as much free, fresh food as possible to our network of 300 pantries, community kitchens, and social service agencies – rescuing surplus from food donor partners ranging from HelloFresh and Driscoll Foods, to major grocery stores, to local farmers markets and school cafeterias. And you can help.  

Do you have connections to a food business? Introduce us! Do you have a little extra time on your hands? Download our I-Rescue App and help run rescues where you live or work. Are you in an office, part of a faith or civic group, club, Scout troop, or school community? Coordinate with us to organize a produce or turkey drive – we’ll pick up everything and deliver directly to local pantries. 

And if you or someone you know is facing hardships right now and you need help finding food, visit https://nj211.org/njsnap and click on Supplemental Food Resources. 

Together, we will continue our daily commitment to turn surplus into sustenance for our community. 

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Below is flier from the New Jersey Department of Human Services regarding the federal government shutdown and NJ SNAP food assistance in English and Spanish.

SNAP-Nov-2025-Update-Flyer SNAP-Nov-2025-Update-Flyer-Spanish

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