FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A New Jersey-based food recovery nonprofit brings a proven model to a city where 1.4 million residents face food insecurity.
NEW YORK, NY & PRINCETON, NJ — May 13, 2026 — Share My Meals (SMM), a New Jersey-based food recovery nonprofit organization, announced today its official expansion into New York City to transform the city’s surplus prepared meals into a sustainable solution for food insecurity. This launch coincides with World Hunger Day (May 28), a global movement that reminds us that hunger is not inevitable, but a systemic issue that we have the power to change.
A Mission to Address Food Insecurity and Surplus Food
Founded in 2020, Share My Meals addresses the dual crisis of food insecurity and the environmental impact of food waste. By enabling the recovery of surplus prepared meals and the distribution of those meals to local communities, SMM envisions a world where everyone has access to nutritious food and no meal goes to waste. Building on six years of success in New Jersey, SMM has already proven that a “Global to Local” model is not only impactful but highly replicable.
The Urgent Need in New York City
The decision to expand into New York City comes at a critical time. Despite being one of the world’s largest food consumption centers—with 19 billion pounds of food* passing through the city annually—the gap between abundance and need is staggering:
- Wasted Potential: In New York State, 2.69 million tons of surplus food* are generated annually, 22% of which is high-quality prepared meals*.
- The Donation Gap: Less than 3% of this surplus* is currently donated.
- Rising Insecurity: 1.4 million New Yorkers are experiencing food insecurity*. Shockingly, 1 in 4 children in the city faces hunger*, and 43% of working-aged households* struggle to afford basic necessities. Since 2019, NYC has seen an 85% increase in monthly visits to soup kitchens and pantries.
Why New York? Why Now?
Share My Meals is entering NYC to bridge the gap between corporate abundance and community need. Through strategic partnerships with national food service providers leaders including FLIK Hospitality Group/Compass Group North America, and local icons like the Agape and Coalition for the Homeless, SMM is bringing its proven, scalable model to the heart of the city. Since soft-launching in April 2024, SMM has already recovered and delivered over 5,450 surplus meals in NYC, saving over 7,000 pounds of food and preventing more than 12 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our model works because it focuses on the efficient and safe recovery of surplus meals while leveraging global corporate partnerships,” said Hélène Lanctuit, CEO of Share My Meals. “New York City represents both our biggest challenge and our greatest opportunity to connect the dots between surplus food generated by NYC’s corporate leaders and its local neighborhoods to create a sustainable, hunger-free ecosystem. World Hunger Day is the moment to invite New York City to join us.”
Take Action: The NYC Launch Cocktail Reception
Aligning with this year’s World Hunger Day theme, #InOurHands, which celebrates collective contributions toward systemic solutions, Share My Meals is hosting a special event to mark the official NYC program launch.
In a city where abundance and need coexist, the organization invites the community to explore its role in the movement by attending the NYC Launch Cocktail Reception on May 28, 2026, at 6:30pm. The event will be held at the Hotel Alameda Rooftop (518 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001). Attendees will learn how to participate in the mission to end hunger and reduce surplus food in NYC. Those interested in attending this transformative evening of connection and purpose can RSVP here.
*Sources: Hunter College Food Policy Center, ReFED, City Harvest
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About Share My Meals
Founded in January 2020, Share My Meals is a nonprofit organization based in Princeton, NJ, active across New Jersey and, as of 2026, in New York City. The organization is dedicated to addressing food insecurity and the environmental impact of food waste by enabling the safe recovery and delivery of nutritious prepared meals to local communities. For more information about Share My Meals, please visit https://sharemymeals.org/.
Media Contact
For press inquiries or more information, please contact:
Assetou Gaudissard | Development and Communications Director
Email: [email protected] | Phone: +1 347 920 4709
