About Gardeners Against Hunger
A youth-led movement transforming surplus garden harvests into nourishment for families across Morris County, NJ.
How It All Started
Gardeners Against Hunger was founded by a high school student in Morris County, NJ who saw a simple but powerful opportunity: neighbors with overflowing gardens and neighbors without enough to eat.
By partnering with nourish.NJ, we created a system to connect the two. What started as a local pilot has become a growing movement to ensure that no garden harvest goes to waste while families go without fresh produce.
The idea is simple: donate your extra tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, or any other produce, and we will make sure it reaches someone who needs it — quickly, locally, and with care.
A youth-led initiative rooted in Morris County, NJ
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
To reduce food waste and fight hunger by connecting Morris County gardeners with families in need — one harvest at a time.
Vision
A New Jersey where no fresh produce goes to waste, and every family has access to locally grown food.
Values
Community, sustainability, equity, and youth leadership guide everything we do.
In Partnership with nourish.NJ
nourish.NJ is a trusted NJ Community Kitchen providing food, housing, and hope to communities across New Jersey. Through our partnership, donated produce is collected, handled, and distributed to families who need it most — ensuring every donation makes a real impact.
nourish.NJ provides the infrastructure, expertise, and distribution network that allows us to scale our mission across Morris County and beyond.
Drop-Off Location (or we can arrange pickup)
347 S Salem St, Dover, NJ 07801Mon–Fri, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
(862) 397-0030Growing Year by Year
2026
- ✓Gardeners Against Hunger founded by a Morris County high school student
- ✓Pilot program launched in Morris County
- ✓Partnership established with nourish.NJ
- ✓First drop-off locations activated
2027
- ✓Expand operations to neighboring counties: Essex, Somerset, Sussex, Warren
- ✓Expand drop-off network across new counties
- ✓Build digital platform for donation scheduling
2028
- ✓Develop statewide partnerships across New Jersey
- ✓Build NJ-wide produce recovery network
- ✓Connect with additional regional food banks
Our Team
Alex Kothari
Founder & Director
High school student in Morris County, NJ who created Gardeners Against Hunger to solve a simple problem: neighbors with surplus gardens and neighbors without enough food.
nourish.NJ
Food Bank Partner & Advisor
nourish.NJ is a trusted NJ Community Kitchen providing food, housing, and hope to communities across New Jersey.
Why This Matters
Food insecurity is a significant challenge across New Jersey. The good news: local gardens are part of the solution.
1 in 10
NJ residents face food insecurity
1 in 7
children in NJ are food insecure
108 Billion
pounds of food wasted annually in the US
52%
of fruits & vegetables go to waste
Join the Movement
Whether you're a gardener, a garden partner, or someone who wants to learn more — there's a place for you in Gardeners Against Hunger.