back-to-top
x
close

Chef David Burke, a longtime Table to Table supporter and trustee emeritus who served on our Board of Directors for many years, will be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame called Burke a “renowned restaurateur and culinary innovator” in its induction announcement. Burke said he was proud to be named an inductee.

“This is a really big deal for me,” Burke said in an announcement posted to his Instagram page. “As a proud Jersey boy, few things have ever pleased me more than this Hall of Fame honor. It’s humbling to be included amongst the incredible range of intellect, talent, and skills that are positioned New Jersey on the world’s stage as the source of an extraordinary degree of innovation.”

Table to Table honored Burke during our 2021 Chefs Gala for “more than 20 years of unwavering support that he so graciously has provided in helping us live out our mission to rescue fresh food and deliver it to organizations that feed our hungry neighbors.”

Burke is one of the best known and most respected chefs in modern American cuisine. He is a pioneer in American cooking and has been recognized internationally for his revolutionary techniques and for building a successful restaurant empire.

Burke will be inducted into the Hall of Fame’s Enterprise category. Other inductees into that category include: Lawrence R. Inserra Jr., chairman and CEO of Inserra Supermarkets Inc., another longtime Table to Table supporter, Frank Bisignanno, CEO and chairman of the board of Fiserv and the current commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Zygmunt “Zygi” Wilf, co-owner of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

The 17 inductees will be honored at the 17th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Nov. 21 at The Arena at American Dream in East Rutherford.


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 work with food businesses of all types to rescued 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. 

Related

More students are working to end hunger and reduce food waste.

Students at Godwin and Highland Elementary schools in Midland Park were honored with the Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy in support of our Bag Lunch, Help a Bunch initiative.

Bag a Lunch participants bring a bagged lunch to school for a day, a week, or more and donate what they would have spent on lunch to help us reduce food waste and help feed those who need it most.

“What an impressive team! The students of Godwin and Highland Elementary schools have stepped up as true community champions,” said Heather Thompson, executive director of Table to Table. “Thanks to their incredible support of Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch, we’ll be able to rescue food for more than 23,000 meals—reducing food waste and bringing nourishment to thousands of our New Jersey neighbors. Their leadership is a powerful reminder that the future is in great hands.”

Through the kindness of the foundation, a challenge grant of $30,000 among all Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch participating schools in Northern New Jersey was established. Of the dozens of schools that participated this school year, Godwin and Highland Elementary schools were the top fundraisers. The funds raised will rescue and deliver enough food for 23,000 healthy meals for those in need throughout Northern New Jersey. That number, along with funds raised by the other schools, was generously doubled by the Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation. 

Schools like yours can join us in our mission to reduce food waste and relieve hunger in New Jersey! We offer several school-focused programs, including:

Click here for more information about our school-based initiatives.


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 work with food businesses of all types to rescued 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. 

Related

Every little bit counts.

Second-graders at Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Leonia held a fresh produce drive for Table to Table recently. One by one students packed fresh apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, avocadoes, and other produce into boxes.

Slowly, the boxes filled up and by the end of the event, the students had donated hundreds of pounds of produce. Students also drew inspirational messages on the boxes urging people to donate more fruit and vegetables when they can.

A Table to Table volunteer brought the food to the Parent Teacher Association of the Fairmount School in Hackensack, where they distributed it.

It was the second time students at Anna C. Scott Elementary School hosted a produce drive for Table to Table.

Students from Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Leonia donated hundreds of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to Table to Table recently

Schools like yours can join us in our mission to reduce food waste and relieve hunger in New Jersey! We offer several school-focused programs, including:

Click here for more information about our school-based initiatives.


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 work with food businesses of all types to rescued 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. 

Related

Never underestimate the power of kids and the force for good they can be.

More than 100 second-graders from Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Leonia donated 665 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables to Table to Table during a special assembly recently — enough food for dozens of individuals to enjoy.

The kids thought of Table to Table while developing a way of how they could have a positive impact on those around them. At first, they were just going to create posters about the need to donate food to a local nonprofit. But they realized they wanted to do more. They wanted to actually give something. They contacted Table to Table after researching local food-based nonprofits and connected with our mission of rescuing nutritious food to help feed our hungry neighbors.

“It became so much bigger than I anticipated it would. The students were amazing. I’m so proud of them,” said Vanessa Franceschini, a second grade teacher at the school.

Table to Table brought the produce to Never Alone Again Resource Center, a nonprofit domestic violence resource organization in Teaneck, where it was immediately distributed to community members.

“I’m so thankful for Table to Table because they are one of our main sources of fresh produce, vegetables and fruits, that our families can have right away,” said Theresa Johnston, CEO and Founder of Never Alone Again.

25 Million Pounds — And Counting

This rescue bring us closer to meeting this year’s goal of rescuing 25 million lbs. of nutritious food. For more information about Table to Table’s Drive for 25 initiative, visit https://tabletotable.org/drive-for-25/. Together, we can reduce food waste in our home and make a positive impact on the planet.

Related

Table Talk Episode 3 With Dr. Laurel Kearns

Q & A With Table to Table’s Julie Kinner