Regular readers of ROI-NJ know we shed light on organizations that are taking steps to confront food insecurity – especially when it’s simple things, like rescuing food that already has been prepared.
Such a thing happened this week when Table to Table, the state’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, announced it has added an airport to its donor list for the first time in its 25-year history.
Table to Table is now rescuing a range of food from Newark Liberty International Airport, including ‘grab and go’ sandwiches, salads and snacks from numerous HMSHost and Hudson locations.
“With three billion meals wasted annually in New Jersey and one million residents experiencing food insecurity, Table to Table is truly grateful to have food donors like HMSHost and Hudson stores at Newark Liberty International Airport joining us to relieve hunger and reduce food waste,” Table To Table Executive Director Heather Thompson said.
“Next time you walk through Newark Airport and notice all the fresh food at these retailers and restaurants — know that every week, all that extra food is being safely picked up and delivered to people who need it.”
Table to Table’s partnership with HMSHost and Hudson, which is part of Avolta, a global travel experience player which operates travel convenience, specialty retail, duty-free, and food and beverage locations in travel venues in 73 countries, soft-launched in late summer.
Currently, Table to Table rescues food from nine HMSHost dining venues in Terminal B and seven Hudson retail locations in Terminals A and B. Plans are in place to grow the program with additional dining venues in Terminal C in the coming months.
Jordi Martin-Consuegra, chief operating officer for Avolta in North America, said the company was eager to help.
“Across our more than 2,000 travel retail and food and beverage locations in North America, there is a tremendous opportunity to have a positive impact in the communities we serve,” she said. “We are proud to partner with Table to Table at Newark Liberty International Airport to help ensure that less food ends up in landfills and more of it finds a way to the tables of those who need it.
“We look forward to growing this program to fight food insecurity throughout New Jersey.”
Fighting food insecurity is easier than you may think.
Table to Table says it rescues fresh, nutritious food to 270+ partner organizations 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, it has rescued more than 109,000 tons of nutritious food — enough for over 311 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 72,000 tons of CO2eq from being released into the environment.
Want to get involved? Click here for more information.
