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Tag: who gives out free food near me?

James Beard Award winner, who relied on free school lunch as a kid in Bronx, told donors why food rescue matters to him.

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

The numbers on hunger in New Jersey are startling. More than 1.2 million people in the state don’t have enough to eat, according to Table to Table.

It’s why organizations such as Table to Table matter.

At Table to Table’s Chefs Gala, Kwame Onwuachi, one of the most accomplished chefs in the country, spoke about growing up in Bronx. When his mother fell on hard times, they went to public schools in the summer for free lunch, something his mother was embarrassed about. He wasn’t, however.

That’s why he was eager to serve as honoree.

“It means so much to me to be a part of something like this,” Onwuachi said to the more than 300 guests at The Rockleigh. “I think the beautiful thing about Table to Table, is that they’re just trying to feed people at the end of the day.”

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

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Chef Kwame Onwuachi wearing glasses and a dark suit standing at a white lectern featuring the "Table to Table" logo, speaking into a microphone with his right hand extended. In the background is a large screen displaying the word "Honoree" and elegant indoor wall sconce lighting.

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, celebrated a milestone night at its 2026 Chefs Gala presented by American Express, raising more than $600,000 to fuel its hunger-relief mission and expansion.

The gourmet event, held Oct. 15, drew over 300 guests and featured James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author Kwame Onwuachi as the Chef Honoree. Onwuachi joined forces with more than 30 of the region’s top chefs, craft brewers, winemakers, mixologists, and distillers — alongside Chef Co-Chairs Jamie Knott and Ryan DePersio — to deliver an unforgettable culinary experience in support of food rescue.

During the gala’s program, Executive Director Heather Thompson delivered major news to supporters: after 27 years of operation, the nonprofit will officially relocate its headquarters to a new facility in Englewood within the coming months. The new headquarters features a dedicated warehouse equipped with two full-sized loading docks, space for volunteer food packing events, and a massive expansion in cold storage capabilities. The upgraded infrastructure will allow Table to Table to store up to 150 pallets of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and dairy.

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

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Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on newjerseyhills.com. Click here to read the entire article.

Livingston’s Ilene Isaacs will be welcomed to the Founder’s Table during Table to Table’s upcoming gala.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, will celebrate its 2026 Chefs Gala Thursday, Oct. 15 at The Rockleigh.

The Founder’s Table was established in 2023 by Table to Table’s Founder Claire Insalata Poulos to recognize individuals, companies, and foundations that have provided extraordinary support to the nonprofit over its 27-year history.

Nothing brought me greater joy and pride a few years into Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch initiative then to have the Livingston Public Schools participate, with Harrison Elementary the top earner in all of Essex, Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties – and the winner of The Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy.

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s premier and largest food rescue organization, has announced that James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author Kwame Onwuachi will serve as the official honoree for its upcoming 2026 Chefs Gala.
Presented by American Express, the signature fundraising event will take place on Oct. 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Moving to a new, larger venue due to overwhelming popular demand, this year’s gala will be hosted at The Rockleigh in Rockleigh.
Departing from a traditional banquet format, the Chefs Gala brings together nearly 40 of the region’s top culinary talents. Participating chefs will personally prepare and serve multi-course signature menus tableside for attendees, paired with fine wines, live auctions, and networking.
All proceeds directly support Table to Table’s mission of rescuing nutritious food, reducing food waste, and reliving hunger in northern New Jersey.

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Fighting hunger while reducing food waste

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on ROI-NJ.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Launched in 1999 by founder Claire Insalata Poulos with four food donors, one donated van designed to transport fresh food and one driver, Table to Table has earned well-deserved recognition as New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization.

Twenty-seven years ago, Poulos and her small group of supporters decided there had to be a way to move surplus food to communities where it would fill an essential need.

Armed with passion and fierce determination, they created an organization made up of staff members and volunteers who work across five New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic.

The organization moved more than 25 million pounds of food last year. About 80% of it was perishable, and 60% was fresh produce. Volunteers alone were responsible for moving more than 2.3 million pounds of food using their I-Rescue App.

We’ve also developed relationships with individuals like Marshall Crane of HMS Host and companies like Avolta, which has allowed us to rescue thousands of pounds of ready-to-eat wraps, salads, and healthy bites from Newark Liberty International Airport.

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Three people smiling indoors next to a table overflowing with bags of groceries, including fresh fruit like apples and oranges, as well as packaged snacks, representing a food distribution or donation effort.

Editor’s note: This article has been aggregated from binje.com. To read the complete article, click here.

The Partners for Health Foundation has awarded a two-year, $120,000 grant to Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit. The funding reinvests in Table to Table’s 27-year mission to reduce environmental food waste while directly addressing health inequities and hunger across northern New Jersey.

The grant arrives at a critical juncture for the region. State food systems are currently bracing for heightened demand due to recent SNAP policy changes and eligibility disruptions, which experts warm will significantly spike food insecurity.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous grant, which is helping Table to Table advance our mission of keeping perfectly good food out of landfills while providing nourishment to children, families, seniors, and veterans facing food insecurity,” said Heather Thompson, executive director of Table to Table. “The foundation’s continued partnership has further fortified our food rescue efforts, allowing us to deepen our impact by growing our network of food donors, community partners, and volunteers.”

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Editor’s note: Feeding Hope: The “Ride to Independence” podcast interviewed Table to Table’s Executive Director Heather Thompson, who spoke about our mission and our Kick Hunger Out of NJ Tour during the FIFA World Cup.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, is feeding hope. It has been combating food waste and hunger since 1999.

Executive Director Heather Thompson shares how the organization collects fresh food from local businesses and events, like the FIFA World Cup, to feed the community. Their Kick Hunger out of New Jersey tour shows how large events can contribute to food security by rescuing surplus food. By collaborating with a wide network of pantries and shelters, Table to Table ensures that delicious, nutritious meals reach those in need without delay, proving that the solution lies in better distribution rather than more food production.

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

‘We couldn’t do it without Table to Table’s help.’

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on CBS New York.

A New Jersey charity is on a mission to make sure nothing goes to waste at 2026 Men’s World Cup Watch Parties in the state. 

Table to Table, a Saddle Brook-based nonprofit, launched an initiative to save leftover food from FIFA watch parties and get it to those who need it most all over northern and central Jersey. 

As soccer fan fever spreads across the Garden State, so do the crowds and the food. But what’s left behind doesn’t have to go to waste. 

The Kick Hunger out of New Jersey Tour is part of the call to rescue surplus meals from World Cup watch parties at restaurants and event spaces, food trucks, and fan festivals.

“We’re packing up food for hundreds of meals that’s already cooked, already prepared, ready to eat. And that is such a gift to our communities,” said Heather Thompson, with Table to Table. 

Restaurants, venues and watch party event organizers can donate surplus food if it’s been prepared in commercial kitchens, Table to Table says.   

During the 39-day tournament, the charity’s tour van is traveling around the state as crews work in real-time to pack up meals within hours and get them out to local partners. 

Food sent to Parkside Community Church in Westwood quickly goes to families who rely on fresh options. 

“The clients that we have, who come here regularly, this is their grocery shopping for the week. They can’t afford to buy food on their own,” said Lisa Bontemps, with the church. 

A Win for All

Table to Table’s initiative is a win on two fronts: cutting down food waste and helping tackle hunger across North Jersey. 

“We realized that there was a real opportunity to get even more of that food out into our community and make sure that those celebrations benefited as many people as possible,” said Thompson. 

“This is critical for them. We couldn’t do it without Table to Table’s help,” said Bontemps.

With dozens of World Cup events still ahead, organizers said they’re just getting started.

The tournament’s championship match will be on July 19 at MetLife Stadium 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 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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Saddle Brook-based nonprofit is collecting surplus food at World Cup festivals, such as Flag Cities

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the entire article.

If you’re planning an event to celebrate the World Cup, make sure you have plenty of food. And if you have plenty of food left over, make sure you remember Table to Table, North Jersey’s leading food-rescue network.

Based in Saddle Brook, Table to Table turns surplus meals into immediate help for hungry neighbors. That’s the basis of its Kick Hunger Out of New Jersey Tour.

The Table to Table Tour Van has been on the road throughout the World Cup, rescuing surplus food from the Goya Presents Flag Cities fan festivals, as well as local parties and special events, and delivering directly to our neighbors in need.

Jim Kirkos, Chief Executive Officer of the Meadowlands Chamber and one of the creators of the Flag Cities festivals, said his group is eager to support the fine work Table to Table does.

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the entire article.

Table to Table’s Vice President of Operations Julie Kinner will be honored with a Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award Friday.

Kinner will receive the organization’s Transformational Leadership Award. This award recognizes inspiring leaders and volunteers nominated by previous honorees.

“Through their dedicated service to others, they extend the ripple effect of good works that will continue to transform lives and communities around New Jersey,” the organization said.

This year is final year the awards will be administered; 2026 is the first time the Russell Berrie Foundation has designated half of its award to Gen Z changemakers younger than 27. The foundation has honored 500 individuals in its 30-year history.

“This is Russ’s lasting legacy: to connect the past to the future and create a community of individuals who, together, are making a positive impact,” said Angelica Berrie, president of the Russell Berrie Foundation.

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 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

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