Tag: New Jersey

October is the time of year for the annual “Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch” campaign, sponsored by Table to Table. Meridian is a proud supporter of Table to Table, a community-based food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it to organizations serving the hungry in Northern New Jersey. During the Bag-A-Lunch campaign, we ask Meridian employees to donate what they would normally spend on lunch for a day. Donating to the campaign is voluntary and the donation amounts are of each individual’s choosing. After the donations are tallied at the end of the program, the company donates a matching gift at 100%, effectively doubling the contribution.
The program, which ended on October 14, resulted in over $750 of Meridian employee contributions. With company matching added to that amount, the total donations from Meridian brought the final tally above $1,500, achieving last year’s contribution level. Kelly Manzo, HR Assistant, was the Meridian Team Captain, responsible for promoting the program at the company and coordinating with her counterparts at Table to Table. Ms. Manzo says, “The Bag-A-Lunch program is a great way for employees to help others in our local communities who are less fortunate. By donating what we would normally spend on lunch, each person’s individual contribution will double with the gift matching program, and ultimately have a much greater impact on those who need it most.” To help raise awareness of the campaign, donation bags were placed in several locations throughout the FBO, including the Break Room, Line Service, Jet Center, and Charter areas.
Table to Table is able to deliver food for less than 10 cents per meal, which creates a huge impact:
$5 helps to deliver more than 50 nutritious lunches
$10 keeps a child nourished for an entire month
$25 brings fresh produce to a family of 4 for 2 months
Every day Table to Table picks up fresh, wholesome food that otherwise would have been discarded, and delivers it safely to non-profit organizations such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters and centers, programs for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, and programs that assist the working poor that serve meals to the hungry in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex counties. With five refrigerated vehicles and dedicated drivers, Table to Table picks up food from a wide range of food establishments each day. This food is delivered on the day it is donated, avoiding the need for warehouse facilities and keeping Table To Table’s costs limited to the operation of the vehicles.
For more information or to make a donation, please visit: www.tabletotable.org