From Kitchen to Community: Volunteer to Deliver Meals (Rahway/Elizabeth)

Every year in New Jersey, 341,000 tons of prepared food goes to waste, while 994,800 New Jersey residents don’t have enough food to eat. Share My Meals is closing the gap between food waste and hunger by mobilizing volunteers to recover nutritious surplus meals from commercial kitchens and deliver them to local nonprofits that support individuals in need.

About the opportunity: Share My Meals is seeking dedicated volunteers to help with a weekly food rescue in Rahway. Volunteers will pick up meal donations from a corporate campus kitchen on Fridays at 1:30 PM and deliver them to a nearby nonprofit organization in Elizabeth (about a 15-minute drive). Before pickup, volunteers will collect empty containers from the nonprofit, then return with the donated meals.

We are looking to build a small group of volunteers who would be willing to support this route on a regular basis starting as soon as possible.

In order to adhere to food safety guidelines, Share My Meals provides all necessary equipment (i.e. insulated bags) to transport food donations safely and requires volunteers to track pick-up and delivery route start and end times using our smart phone app.

Volunteer Requirements:

• Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
• Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license.
• Volunteers must provide their own transportation and have the necessary auto insurance (minimum of $300,000 Single Limit or $100,000/$300,000 Split Limit auto liability limits).
• Volunteers must have a smartphone with the ability to download our food donation tracking app.

Volunteers are asked to complete Share My Meals onboarding and app and food safety training before volunteering.

Please note: This is not a one-time volunteer opportunity; we are looking for volunteers who are available to support the meal delivery program through the year.

Sources: https://insights-engine.refed.org/food-waste-monitor?break_by=food_type&indicator=tons-waste&state=NJ&view=detail&year=2023; https://www-doh.nj.gov/doh-shad/indicator/summary/FoodInsecurity.html#:~:text=