Just in Time, One Box at a Time
How our food rescue model sets the tone for an exceptional food access network, one of the best in the state.
Every day at Table to Table, we adapt to the unpredictability of food rescue. We’ve built a system that’s flexible enough to meet the unique needs of our neighbors. At the heart of that system is something surprisingly simple: the humble banana box—absolutely central to our mission. If you haven’t seen it in action, let me paint you a picture.
Most of the food recovery work in the US is done in two models: a model relying on huge trucks and paid staff to pick up pre-packed pallets and deliver them to a warehouse for distribution days later or a model where pantries send their own staff or volunteers to the store to collect whatever food is available that day. Table to Table is one of the few organizations across the country that uses a route based model, and the banana box is a key part of that process. Volunteers go into a food donor partner and collect the donations directly from staff. They cart it out, pack it by type into 20 or more banana boxes, and deliver it directly to food access partners.
With this model we prioritize dignity, supporting our belief that both people and food have inherent value. At a partner meeting just this week, folks reported that most of the food we deliver in a day is gone within 3 hours, so we know our neighbors get food to their tables as fresh as possible. When we pack food by hand, inspecting items for quality, we’re not just moving food—we’re ensuring it’s good food, worthy of the people we serve.
And our model supports equity, too. Food recovery is unpredictable. Some days a store might only have a few boxes of bread. Other days, there might be hundreds of pounds of strawberries. In a one-store-to-one-pantry model, that can be a challenge. What if a pantry doesn’t have enough patrons for all those strawberries? What if the store has nothing that day? Our volunteers visit multiple stores, and split the food into smaller manageable boxes by food type. This allows us to redistribute resources more fairly and address needs of different communities. We can make sure those strawberries are delivered to both a Head Start program and a pantry. We can also pick up and combine several small donations to create a meaningful delivery. The banana box allows us to respond in real time, to build equity into the system with every stop.
Our volunteers aren’t just box packers. They’re relationship builders. They know the names of dairy managers and produce clerks. They touch each item that goes into a box. They check in when donations are low and thank donors in person. That daily presence makes a difference—this is why stores in Johnson County donate more food collectively than those in comparable communities.
When a volunteer delivers boxes to a partner, they’re not just unloading and leaving. They’re asking, “What do you need today?” They’re listening and noticing change. Then they’re reporting back, so we can adjust. This kind of real-time collaboration simply isn’t possible in a top-down distribution system. But when you’re handing a box of food directly to a recipient partner? You build trust. You stay connected.
Last year, volunteers distributed 2.7 million pounds of food. They packed more than 1,000 boxes a week, 52,000 boxes in a year. Volunteers are the reason we can respond quickly and distribute quality food equitably. You can join us. Whether by volunteering, donating, advocating, or simply sharing our story, you are a part of this network.
None of this would be possible without our community. We’re holding steady, because we’ve built a model rooted in adaptability and powered by people. But we also know that the road ahead won’t be easy. State and federal policies are shifting. Food insecurity is becoming more complex. And yet—we’re still here.
So, when folks ask me how we are going to meet this moment? My answer is: We will do it together and we will do it one box at a time.
In hope & solidarity, Nicki Ross -Executive Director
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