Every day, perfectly good food goes uneaten while thousands of households across our community struggle with food insecurity. Through our growing partnership with Share My Meals and participation in the Meal Recovery Coalition, TASK is helping bridge that gap — rescuing surplus meals and getting them into the hands of our neighbors who need them most.

Food recovery has become an increasingly important strategy in the fight against hunger. Restaurants, corporate cafeterias, universities, caterers and other organizations often have high-quality prepared meals left over at the end of the day. In the past, much of that food may have gone to waste. Today, thanks to innovative partnerships and technology-driven solutions, those meals can instead nourish people throughout our community.

Share My Meals, a Princeton-based nonprofit, was founded in 2020, committed to reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity by connecting food donors with local nonprofit partners through a streamlined recovery network powered by a dedicated staff and volunteer corps. Soon thereafter, the organization began partnering with TASK to distribute rescued meals.

As Share My Meals sought to create a sustainable, replicable model for surplus meal recovery, they also recognized the need to build a strong network of public and private stakeholders to support education, advocacy and innovation. From there, the Meal Recovery Coalition was launched in 2024, and TASK became a founding nonprofit member.

Recent studies reveal that over 30% of all food grown in the United States goes to waste. Furthermore, roughly 15% of the United States’ total landfill emissions come from wasted food, with landfills being the third largest source of methane emissions in the country. Almost one-quarter of all solid waste in landfills is food.

“Repurposing surplus food is a powerful step towards an economy where resources are valued, waste is minimized and natural systems are protected,” says Share My Meals’ outgoing CEO, Helene Lanctuit.

In addition, these partnerships reflect TASK’s longstanding commitment to feeding the community and
finding creative and sustainable solutions to hunger. Last year, TASK was able to accept and distribute 7,628 recovered meals and more than 1,800 pounds of groceries, including produce and baked goods. Through these efforts, TASK and Share My Meals prevented roughly 18.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The meals recovered through Share My Meals include a wide variety of fresh, nutritious foods that help to supplement TASK’s daily meal service and expand our ability to reach individuals facing food insecurity.
Behind every recovered meal is a deep network of partnerships — including volunteers, food donors and community organizations — who all play a role in making the system work.

For TASK, the partnership with Share My Meals and the Meal Recovery Coalition is about more than food rescue — it is about dignity, sustainability and compassion. Every recovered meal represents an opportunity to reduce waste, support neighbors facing hardship and build community.

“Much like the community we serve, nonprofits like TASK are being challenged to stretch resources further than ever before,” says TASK COO Paul Jensen. “Meal recovery programs like Share My Meals help maximize available food while ensuring that nutritious meals do not go to waste.”

Adds TASK CEO Amy Flynn, “As food insecurity continues to impact communities across Mercer County and beyond, partnerships and coalitions like these demonstrate the power of innovation and collaboration in building a healthier and more equitable future for all.”