back-to-top
x
close

Tag: food insecurity

Montclair State University’s Social Work and Child Advocacy Department Co-Sponsors Event 

April 30, 2025 – Saddle Brook, NJ – Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, successfully concluded its third annual Partners for Good Conference co-sponsored by Montclair State University’s Social Work and Child Advocacy Department. The Partners for Good Conference is designed to connect, inform and empower the nonprofit’s partner pantries, social service agencies, shelters, and other community partners, who distribute the surplus food delivered by Table to Table to communities in need throughout Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson, and Morris counties.  

“This year’s Partners for Good Conference provided our community partners with an interactive venue to network, learn, and share resources to support their vital work in our communities,” said Heather Thompson, Executive Director, Table to Table. “Many of our partners are navigating extraordinary challenges – increasing need among our neighbors, limited staffs and budgets, and a multitude of unpredictable circumstances. This annual gathering is an opportunity to not only share critical information and build connections among our partners; it also welcomes State and County leaders to listen and engage in our collective efforts to reduce food insecurity,” Thompson concluded.

The day-long Conference featured partner panels, breakout discussions, and presentations addressing critical and timely topics that were informed by Table to Table’s Community Advisory Board. The afternoon capped off with a discussion about New Jersey’s newly launched Food Security Strategic Plan led by Mark Dinglasan and Dr. Jenny Schrum from the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA). 

“OFSA applauds Table to Table for another successful Annual Partners for Good Conference. It was a pleasure for Dr. Jenny and me to present the statewide food security strategic plan and implementation tool kit to the attendees and to answer questions,” said Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director, NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate. “New Jersey’s food security efforts, including the strategic plan, are rooted in the belief that true food security can only be achieved through multisector partnerships that have consensus and collaboration among interconnected partners. Hunger, poverty, and food insecurity are insidious foes that are highly complex and interconnected. Our efforts to combat them must be just as interconnected, and it is through events like the annual Partners for Good Conference that we are able to build these rich connections,” Dinglasan concluded. 

“We were pleased to partner with Table to Table for the second year in a row to support these important efforts and realize Montclair State University’s mission to serve our state’s dynamic, varied communities,” said Milton A. Fuentes, Psy.D. Interim Chair, Social Work and Child Advocacy Special Advisor to the Provost/Professor, Psychology Department, Montclair State University.  

Table to Table’s Partners for Good Conference was made possible through the generosity of our sponsors: Montclair State University’s Social Work and Child Advocacy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; ShopRite Inserra Supermarkets Inc.; Horizon; Something to Talk About Marketing; Dorfman Abrams Music Accountants & Advisors; Bergen County Camera; and Premium Digital Office Solutions. 

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 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. 

###

Editor’s note: This blog post was aggregated from an article by the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College. Click here to read the entire article.

Government has always tracked food security through the lens of affordability through the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, which is distributed annually to about 40,000 households.

The definition of food security as adopted by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, is a condition where all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active, healthy lifestyle.

Related: 1 In 10 NJ Households Experienced Food Insecurity, New Report Shows

Dr. Jenny Schrum, the director of research and evaluation strategy at the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA), sought to go deeper with a new food security measurement model. The OFSA, headed by Executive Director Mark Dinglasan, is the first and only state-level food security agency in the country.

“We always associate food security with money, which is incredibly salient, but not the whole story,” Schrum told the New York City Food Policy Center. “If people have enough money, if may give you access. But there are many reasons people are food insecurity.”

As an outgrowth of the research, OFSA created the New Jersey Food Security Strategic Plan, a three-year initiative to guide and coordinate actions in addressing food insecurity statewide. A recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture released shows that one in 10 New Jersey households were food insecure between 2022 and 2024.

Related: New Jersey Publishes 3-Year Food Security Strategic Plan

Schrum’s research also led the OFSA to survey more than 2,000 New Jersey residents from communities with high rates of food insecurity. Those findings were documented in the OFSA’s Exploring the Six Dimensions of Food Security in New Jersey. The report has an interactive dashboard that lets readers explore results from the survey.

“With inflation, a changing economy, and climate change reshaping what we can grow and where, food insecurity is going to affect far more people than it does today,” Schrum told the New York City Food Policy Center. “If we only ever respond to the emergency, we never address what’s causing it. Better definitions, better data, better program data, that’s how we start to get ahead of it.”

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:

To our Food Rescue Hero Volunteers,

I want to take a moment this National Volunteer Appreciation Month to personally thank you for the incredible role you play in advancing our mission. Because of your dedication, compassion, and willingness to step up day after day, we continue to rescue and deliver millions of pounds of fresh, nutritious food to our neighbors in need. That is not just impactful; it is life-changing work.

You are more than volunteers — you are a vital part of the Table to Table family. Every pickup, every delivery, every moment you give helps reduce food waste while bringing hope and nourishment to communities across New Jersey. The difference you make is real, and it is deeply appreciated.

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and there is no better time to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary commitment you bring to this work. This month is a reminder of just how essential volunteers are to communities everywhere, but here at Table to Table, we see your impact every single day. We are incredibly grateful for all that you do and proud to celebrate YOU.

Simply put, none of this is possible without you.

Thanks again for your time, your energy, and your belief in what we do. Together, let’s continue to turn surplus into sustenance – one rescue at a time.

With gratitude,

A stylized handwritten signature in black ink, featuring looping, cursive strokes with overlapping lines and flourishes on a light background.

Heather Thompson,

Executive Director

Table to Table

Four women sit around a table indoors, each holding an orange and smiling or looking toward the camera. Yarn, cups, and craft supplies are spread across the table, suggesting a casual group activity or social gathering in a cozy room with wooden furniture and framed photos on the wall.

Editor’s note: Essex News Daily published an article featuring Table to Table partnering with the Bloomfield School District to rescue freshly-prepared food from school cafeterias and deliver it to our hungry neighbors. Read the original article here.

The food rescue organization Table to Table has launched a program, with help from the Grotta Fund for Older Adults, that is designed to provide local seniors with nourishing food for free, including a wide variety of fruit, meat, cereal packs, frozen meals, and Hello Fresh meal kits. 

Table to Table’s new program brings fresh rescued food, including prepared, ready-to-heat meals, whole fruit, salad cups, and cartons of milk. directly to participants of the Oakeside Seniors Program in Bloomfield, a bi-weekly social and wellness program for older adults run by the Township of Bloomfield and Neighbor to Neighbor Network. 

Table to Table also delivers to Manna Food Pantry and Toni’s Kitchen. These pantries then distribute the food to seniors through their soup kitchens, home delivery programs, and community distributions, ensuring that older adults who are homebound or have limited mobility can access nutritious food, according to a press release from the organization.  

Receiving this food from Table to Table at Oakeside is very beneficial to me. Not only is it always fresh and natural, but I also like the fact that it helps since I’m on a fixed income and have to stretch my pennies from month to month.


— Michelle, an Oakeside Senior Program participant

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:

We are saddened to hear about the passing of Chef Tom Valenti. Beyond his incredible culinary talent, Chef Valenti was a champion of Table to Table’s mission, most notably at our annual Chef Galas throughout the years.  We are truly grateful for his passion, kindness, and belief in what we do. He will be dearly missed.

Valenti’s philanthropic efforts went beyond Table to Table’s mission of recuing food, reducing waste, and relieving hunger.

Chef Valenti established the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund dedicated to benefit the surviving family members of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks who worked in the foodservice industry. A “Dine Out” date of Oct. 11, 2001 was set to generate funds for the effort. News of the effort soon spread beyond New York City and more than 5,000 restaurants around the world contributed to the endeavor. More than $23 million was raised as a result.

Valenti helped lead the Restaurants for Relief effort to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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:

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:

Fighting hunger while reducing food waste is the mission Table to Table, a nonprofit making a meaningful impact across New Jersey communities. This summer, Table to Table is expanding its reach through a new partnership with Goya Presents Flag Cities. Heather Thompson, Executive Director of Table to Table, spoke about the organization’s mission and this partnership on ONNJ’s “Mornings with Ken Rosato.”

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:

Editor’s note: Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson wrote this opinion piece. It originally appeared on NJ.com Sunday, March 29, 2026. Click here to read the article.

Nearly three billion pounds of surplus food is produced each year in New Jersey — the majority of which goes to waste, despite being perfectly edible.

At the same time, more than 1.1 million New Jerseyans are food insecure, with limited or uncertain access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for themselves and their families. Of that number, a staggering 270,000 are children.

The amount of good food being discarded while so many people struggle to access food represents a significant disconnect. But there is good news in New Jersey.

A New Law Pushes Food Waste Reduction

A law passed in January mandates county-level solid waste management districts to reduce annual food waste by 50% by 2035. It is a significant step that will benefit the environment by reducing methane gas emissions and has strong potential to benefit neighbors facing food insecurity.

While national goals to reduce food waste have been in place since 2015, and state goals since 2017, this marks the first time New Jersey has implemented legislation specifically aimed at driving action at the local level.

With the passage of this bill, county officials, municipal leaders and local organizations are mobilizing to explore strategies that will be most effective for their own communities.

The legislation also highlights the donation of perishable food as a key strategy, reinforcing what organizations like Table to Table have known for many years: food rescue — where food businesses donate surplus fresh and prepared food that is quickly delivered to pantries, shelters and other community organizations — is a highly effective model that benefits everyone involved.

Donation Before Composting

When many people think about reducing food waste, composting is often the first solution that comes to mind. Composting is far preferable to sending food to landfills, but when food is still edible, donation should be the first step.

Take an oddly shaped apple, for example. A shopper may pass it over at the supermarket in favor of something that looks more perfect.

After a few days, a new shipment arrives, shelves are cleared and that apple is removed. It does not need to be thrown away. It is perfectly edible and likely quite delicious.

Through food rescue, that apple can be safely donated and end up in a child’s lunch box the next day. If it is badly bruised, it can instead go to a local farm for animal feed. Only when food is no longer safe for consumption of any kind should it be composted.

It Takes a Village to Rescue Food

Building a sustainable and scalable food rescue system requires collective effort. Several food recovery organizations across New Jersey play critical roles in linking surplus food to those in need. Hundreds of food businesses have committed to donating quality surplus food.

Thousands of volunteers conduct rescues, support outreach and assist local pantries and food distributions to ensure food reaches neighbors who need it.

With this new law in place, those local networks can grow and coordinate around shared goals — ensuring more good food ends up on tables instead of in landfills.

Food rescue is an efficient solution to reducing food waste while directly addressing food insecurity. It is a win-win model with room for everyone to participate.

As New Jersey counties embrace food rescue as a core strategy, our air will get cleaner, landfills will grow more slowly, and, most importantly, our neighbors and their children will be nourished.

Heather Thompson is the executive director of Table to Table, a New Jersey nonprofit that bridges the gap between food waste and food insecurity by mobilizing refrigerated trucks and volunteers to rescue fresh surplus food — the equivalent of more than 25 million meals annually — and deliver it directly to pantries, shelters, and community agencies.

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:

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on TAPinto Wayne. Click here to read the original article.

The Wayne Rotary Club, working alongside the Wayne Volunteers and nonprofit Table to Table, is organizing a large-scale meal-packing event Saturday, April 18 at the Wayne Community Center.

The goal is to prepare 2,000 meal packs for more than 10 organizations across Passaic County, TAPinto Wayne reported. Table to Table volunteers will collect the meal packs and deliver them to the partner organizations.

Making sandwiches and creating meal packs are just two of the ways volunteers can give of their time and energy to our 26-year mission of rescuing food, reducing waste, and relieving hunger.

For ways you can volunteer to help Table to Table, click here.

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:

Students from Ridgewood’s Willard Elementary School collected bags of food for us as part of the school’s Service Day March 17.

Fifth-graders organized the food by type. They then took items from each food type and made 34 food packs that we delivered to the Ridgewood YMCA for their food distribution.

Students also drew sketches of what a food rescue hero looks like to them and were asked how food rescue heroes help others. One student responded that they help by, “Saving the food that would go waste and giving it to people in need.”

Every participating student received a Table to Table Food Rescue Hero badge to let others know the role they played in alleviating hunger that day.

Food drives are one component of our School Partnerships initiative. We partner with elementary, middle, and high schools, along with universities, on a wide range of food drives to collect nutritious fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, and turkeys and hams for the holidays.

The Ridgewood Public School District is a stout supporter of ours. The district and us joined forces to form Bergen County’s first district-wide food rescue relationship. Nourishing surplus meals and snacks from seven school cafeterias are collected from each of the schools by Pomptonian Food Service, the district’s food service company, rescued by local volunteers, and delivered to Ridgecrest Senior Apartments through Table to Table’s I-Rescue App. More than 10,000 pounds of nutritious food has been rescued to date.

 “Our connection with Table to Table is a vital part of our commitment to a greener, more supportive Ridgewood,” said Dr. Mark Schwarz, Superintendent of Schools. “We are proud of this shared mission to eliminate food waste in our cafeterias and redirect those resources to those in need. It’s a powerful lesson for our students: when we work together, we can turn a logistical challenge into a community solution.”

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:

© 2026 TableToTable - All rights reserved. Table to Table is a 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID 22-3646125

Privacy Policy