Princeton, NJ – February 6, 2025 – Share My Meals (SMM), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting food insecurity and reducing food waste, is proud to announce its new partnership with Princeton Public Schools. As part of this collaboration, surplus prepared meals from the district’s schools are now being safely recovered and redistributed to families and residents in the Princeton area on a weekly basis. The first pickup took place on Friday, January 10, marking the beginning of this impactful initiative. This partnership is made possible through the dedicated efforts of the Princeton School District and Pomptonian Food Service, the district’s food service provider.
The Princeton Public Schools partnership is SMM’s second collaboration with a K-12 public school district and its second Pomptonian account, following a successful initiative with the Morris School District. This connection brings together key players—Share My Meals, Princeton Public Schools, and Pomptonian Food Service—to create a sustainable solution that benefits the entire community.
In Mercer County, approximately 10% of the population faces food insecurity. At the same time, in cafeteria settings where food is prepared at high volume, there is often some unavoidable food surplus that goes to waste due to various constraints. By redistributing surplus meals, Share My Meals and its partners address both issues simultaneously. This program not only supports the nutritional needs of local families but also reduces the environmental impact of food waste.
“Partnerships like this highlight the importance of community-driven solutions,” said Meg Lembo, Director of Outreach of Share My Meals. “We’re thrilled to partner with Princeton Public Schools and Pomptonian Food Service to create meaningful change right here in Princeton.”
Shannon Barlow, Food Systems Literacy Coordinator at Princeton Public Schools, shared her enthusiasm for the partnership: “Collaborating with Share My Meals aligns perfectly with our goals of sustainability and community support. By donating our surplus meals, we’re not only reducing food waste but also ensuring that students and families in our community have access to nutritious food.”
Candy Vidovich, CEO of Pomptonian Food Service, emphasized the role of nutrition and community in this initiative: “At Pomptonian, we strive to promote health and well-being through our innovative food service programs. Partnering with Share My Meals and Princeton Public Schools allows us to extend that mission beyond the cafeteria, directly impacting families in need and supporting our shared commitment to sustainability.”
This collaboration sets an inspiring example of how schools, nonprofits, and food service providers can work together to combat food insecurity and reduce waste. As the program grows, Share My Meals hopes to expand this model to other school districts, creating a broader network of meal recovery efforts across New Jersey and beyond.
About Share My Meals: Founded in January 2020, Share My Meals is a nonprofit organization based in Princeton, NJ, and active across New Jersey, dedicated to addressing food insecurity and the environmental impact of food waste by safely recovering and delivering healthy prepared meals to local communities. For more information about Share My Meals, please visit https://sharemymeals.org/.
About Princeton Public Schools: Princeton Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Princeton, in Mercer County, New Jersey. Their mission is to prepare all of our students to lead lives of joy and purpose as knowledgeable, creative and compassionate citizens of a global society. For more information about Princeton Public Schools, please visit https://www.princetonk12.org/.
About Pomptonian Food Service: Pomptonian Food Service is a leading provider of school nutrition programs, serving students across New Jersey. With a focus on health, innovation, and sustainability, Pomptonian’s initiatives, such as The Farm Stand concept, have set a high standard for promoting fresh and nutritious meals in schools. For more information about Pomptonian Food Service, please visit https://www.pomptonian.com/.
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