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Tag: where can I volunteer in Morris County?

Stephanie Conley-Webb at Table to Table

Editor’s note: This blog post originally appeared on Common Impact’s website. Click here to read the rest of the blog.

When you think of a hero, you might picture someone in a cape. But at Table to Table, heroes come in all forms. Some drive minivans full of food, and some are retirees with a little extra time. In this spotlight, we sat down with Stephanie Conley-Webb, volunteer manager at Table to Table, to hear how her organization is tackling hunger across New Jersey through creative food rescue strategies and community partnerships, including skills-based volunteering.

Today, thanks to I-Rescue and the support of our amazing volunteers, we recover surplus food from local restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, and corporate and school cafeterias, among many others.

Stephanie Conley-Webb, Table to Table’s volunteer coordinator

Stephanie shares powerful stories that show the impact of Table to Table’s work. She also reflects on how Table to Table leveled up its volunteer program after participating in a skills-based volunteering project with Novartis and Common Impact. The insights they gained about storytelling, inclusion, and how a simple name change can spark big engagement are already making a difference.

“We’re celebrating 26 years of impact this year and know we can always do more. In 2021, we realized that sending a 26-foot refrigerated truck to pick up a few pizzas from a local pizzeria wasn’t the best use of resources. That’s when we partnered with a food rescue app, launching our I-Rescue program. What started as a way to recover a few hundred thousand pounds of food quickly grew,” Stephanie said. “In 2024 alone, we rescued over 1.8 million pounds of food that would have otherwise gone to waste through the app. Today, thanks to I-Rescue and the support of our amazing volunteers, we recover surplus food from local restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, and corporate and school cafeterias, among many others.”

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 is honoring Chef Christian Petroni at our 2025 Chefs Gala

Editor’s note: This story originally ran on Jersey Bites’ website.

Food lovers, mark your calendars—Thursday, October 9 is the night Table to Table’s legendary Chefs Gala takes over Edgewood Country Club in River Vale. This over-the-top food lover’s dream brings together 25+ incredible chefs, impeccable wine pairings, local breweries and distilleries, and an exciting live auction—all to support Table to Table’s food rescue mission.

This Chefs Gala offers a unique personal dining experience in the setting of an elegant Gala with unforgettable cuisine, impeccable wine pairings, an exciting live auction, and so much more—all in support of Table to Table’s mission to rescue food, reduce food waste, and relieve hunger in our communities.

This year, the spotlight shines on Chef Christian Petroni—Bronx-born Italian American chef, restaurateur, and TV personality. Known for his infectious energy, love of red sauce, and fan-favorite Food Network appearances (Food Network Star winner, Chopped, Guy’s Grocery Games, Beat Bobby Flay), Petroni has built his career around connecting people through food. His debut cookbook, Parm to Table, drops September 23, 2025.

Not only is Chris’ passion for food, family, and community infectious, he is also strongly aligned with Table to Table’s food rescue mission.”

Heather Thompson, executive director of Table to Table

Who’s Cooking

This is no ordinary gala dinner. Guests will be served tableside by a powerhouse lineup of chefs:

John Michael Beam – Aficionado Coffee Roasters
Brandon Campney – Sterling Inn
AJ Capella – Summit House
Bianca Concepcion and Jeff Galan – Fossil Farms
Michael Cosenza – Mike’s Pasta Shoppe
Mary Cumella and Logan Ramirez – Gioia Mia
Ryan DePersio – Battello, Kitchen Step, Ember & Eagle, and TillingHouse
David Felton – Morris Proper
Leia Gaccione – The Saint Clair
Felix Gonzalez – Viaggio Ristorante
Melany Gonzalez – Saddle River Inn
Alex Gorant – Axia Taverna
Bryan Gregg – Blue Morel
Dan Lipow – Foraged Feast
Lulu’s Truck
Christina Marcelli – Marcelli Formaggi
Off The Hook Seafood
Sal Pisani – Jersey Artisan Co.
Timothy Quinlan – Ava’s Kitchen
Andrew Riccatelli – Bacarosa
Dean Schreefer – Echo Lake Country Club
Robert Sigona – Gelotti
Tom Silvestri – Ora
Melissa Stanard – The Goods
Lawrence Talis – The Committed Pig
Joe Tartamella – Canoe Brook Country Club
Geoff Taylor – The 130 Club
Christina Vene – Cakes of Wrath
Wine pairings provided by Chuck Russo’s Wine and Spirit World

Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries

Frankie Medina – JCR Hospitality, Battello, Kitchen Step, Ember & Eagle, and Tillinghouse
Dirty Pelican
Don Julio
Ghost Hawk Brewery
Sangri
Silk City Distillers
Tito’s
Wilson Daniels Wines

Special Recognition

This year, Table to Table will also induct Edgar Brieva, James P. Bush, the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Chef Jamie Milkman, and Gerard Woods into the Founder’s Table, which honors extraordinary supporters of the nonprofit’s 26-year mission.

Sponsors

Big thanks to the sponsors making this mission-driven night possible:

  • Bronze Sponsor: Charles Schwab
  • Presenting Sponsor: American Express
  • Grand Sponsor: Crestron
  • Platinum Sponsors: Arca Restaurant and Lounge, David & Kathleen Hildes, Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets, Summit Associates
  • Gold Sponsor: Restoration Technologies Inc.
  • Silver Sponsors: Takasago, Tito’s Handmade Vodka
  • Bronze Sponsor: Charles Schwab, Columbia Bank Foundation, YMCA Meadowlands

Why It Matters

Every $1 raised = 10 healthy meals rescued and delivered to New Jersey neighbors in need. Since 1999, Table to Table has provided more than 241 million meals by redirecting surplus food to pantries, shelters, and community hubs.

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:

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Bergen magazine.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, concluded its second annual Partners in Good Health Conference earlier this year. The conference connects the nonprofit’s partner pantries, shelters, and other community partners, which distribute food donations to communities 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 from entering the environment.

Related:

The United States’ food system is broken. David Cutrona is doing his part to fix it.

Our June Volunteer Spotlight is showcasing Cutrona and his work as an I-Rescue App volunteer. He has been volunteering with us since January.

“I volunteer because our food system is broken,” Cutrona said. “Table to Table’s food rescue missions allow individuals to help tackle this large-scale problem.”

Volunteering Like David Cutrona Does

Cutrona rescues healthy, nutritious food from grocery stores, farmers markets, wholesalers, and other food service businesses and delivers it to churches, senior centers, daycares, and smaller nonprofits, who distribute it to the individuals they serve.

Signing up to be a Table to Table volunteer is easy. Julie Kinner, Table to Table’s Vice President of Operations, said all you have to do is download the Table to Table I-Rescue app, powered by Food Rescue Hero, on your phone to become a food rescue hero! You’ll complete a simple registration process and volunteer agreement, and then you can get started. The app walks you through every step!

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to volunteer with our food rescue program. However, the driver must have a valid driver’s license, and a valid vehicle registration and insurance. 

Since we launched, more than 350 volunteers have completed more than 9,600 rescues and delivered more than 2 million pounds of donated food that would have been thrown away.

As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue, our mission is to reduce food waste and provide nourishment to our food-insecure neighbors throughout North Jersey. We rescue millions of pounds of fresh food annually that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills, contributing 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.

Mr. and Mrs. Esposito are Table to Table’s March Volunteer Spotlight. It is the first time we have featured someone from Morris County for our Volunteer Spotlight!

“As members of Hands of St. Luke in Long Valley, my husband and I are proud to be part of a dedicated group of volunteers who work with Table to Table. We are honored to help pick up and deliver boxes of food in Morris County from the Chester ShopRite, ensuring that those in need in our communities are fed,” Mrs. Esposito said. “While the need is great, we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact alongside many hardworking volunteers. We feel truly humbled to contribute, even in small ways, to improving the lives of others.”

Volunteering Like Mr. and Mrs. Esposito Do

Signing up to be a Table to Table volunteer is easy. Julie Kinner, Table to Table’s Vice President of Operations, said all you have to do is download the Table to Table I-Rescue app, powered by Food Rescue Hero, on your phone to become a food rescue hero! You’ll complete a simple registration process and volunteer agreement, and then you can get started. The app walks you through every step! This is what Mr. and Mrs. Esposito uses.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to volunteer with our food rescue program. However, the driver must have a valid driver’s license, and a valid vehicle registration and insurance. 

Since we launched, more than 350 volunteers have completed more than 9,600 rescues and delivered more than 2 million pounds of donated food that would have been thrown away.

As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue, our mission is to reduce food waste and provide nourishment to our food-insecure neighbors throughout North Jersey. We rescue millions of pounds of fresh food annually that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills, contributing 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.

© 2025 TableToTable - All rights reserved. Table to Table is a 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID 22-3646125

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