Table to Table Food Rescue Program
Fair Lawn Rotarians recently learned about a successful program that is providing assistance to the hungry in our area. Julie Sciaino, Director of Food Donor Relations for Table to Table presented a presentation of what this organization does to help those in need. Table to Table is northeast
According to the USDA, almost 1/3 of the edible food we produce in this country is wasted. It is with this fact, that Table to Table was established in 1999 to pick up fresh excess and leftover food that would otherwise be thrown out and deliver it to places that serve the hungry. Table to Table’s service area covers
Table to Table operates refrigerated vehicles for the daily pick-up and delivery of fresh food. This organization does not have a storage or warehouse building, so at the end of each day their trucks are empty, thereby minimizing expenses and maximizing efficiencies. In 2010 Table to Table will deliver enough food to serve over 6.5 million meals at the cost of less than 10 cents/meal. Since 1999, this organization has seen an increase in the number of people they serve each and every year by 10 – 30%.
Table to Table does not take any government money, they rely solely on their own efforts to raise the funds needed to support this operation and has never received any government funding of any kind. Part of their success is due to the support of corporate partners. At Table to Table, 92 cents of every dollar goes directly to the operation of their vehicles and the delivery of food. Their fund raising expenses are an impressive 8%. Table to Table delivers food for free. Unlike other hunger relief agencies, Table to Table does not charge recipient agencies for any of the food delivered to them.
Table to Table is the most effective hunger relief program in the entire State of