Dole & Bailey Donates Over $90,000 in Food to Family Table Collaborative, Supporting Meals Across Cape Cod

Yarmouth, MA — March 2026 — The Family Table Collaborative (FTC) has received a significant boost in its mission to increase nutritional security across Cape Cod thanks to a generous donation of more than $90,000 worth of food from Dole & Bailey, the Woburn-based premium meat and seafood company.

The donation totals 11 pallets of food, mostly protein, which will be transported from Woburn to Yarmouth with the help of Midnight Our Seafood, a Chatham-based seafood company, whose owner is sending a truck to retrieve and deliver the products.

“Whenever Jeni Wheeler and the Family Table Collaborative call, I do whatever I can to help them out,” said Jesse Rose, owner of Midnight Our Seafood. “They provide good, wholesome meals to the people in need in our community.”

Dole & Bailey is led by Owner and CEO Nancy Matheson-Burns, who shares a culinary connection with Jeni Wheeler, Co-Founder of the Family Table Collaborative, as a fellow member of the New England chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international organization of women leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality.

“We were absolutely thrilled to donate $90,000 worth of food to Family Table Collaborative because we believe incredible ingredients should never go to waste, especially when they can nourish and uplift a community,” said Nancy Matheson-Burns, Owner and CEO of Dole & Bailey. “As foodservice distributors, we all have products in our inventory—broken cases, specialty items, and unique ingredients—that may no longer fit our logistics but still have tremendous value.

“What excites me most is knowing organizations like Family Table have the creativity, skill, and heart to transform those ingredients into amazing meals that bless people in their communities. It’s a win for everyone.

“My hope is that this inspires others in the foodservice distribution world to take a fresh look at their own inventory and realize the opportunity sitting right there on the shelf. With just a little intention, we can turn surplus food into something powerful—supporting chefs, strengthening communities, and making sure great food reaches the people who need it most.”

This donation arrives shortly after the Family Table Collaborative served as part of the emergency response for Barnstable County during the Blizzard of 2026. In partnership with World Central Kitchen, the organization prepared and distributed 15,000 meals out of FTC’s kitchen across Cape Cod between Sunday and Friday during the storm response.

Founded six years ago, the Family Table Collaborative focuses on strengthening nutritional security for Cape Cod residents every day, every week, and every month of the year. To date, the organization has:

• Prepared and distributed more than 250,000 nutritious meals

• Rescued and distributed over 125,000 pounds of fresh produce

• Prevented nearly 500,000 pounds of food—primarily produce—from becoming waste in the past three and a half years

FTC is the only food organization serving all 15 towns on Cape Cod, ensuring equitable access to nutritious meals throughout the region. It is also the only food organization on Cape Cod addressing all food sensitivities and allergens, ensuring inclusive meal access for residents with dietary restrictions.

The organization also manages the full cycle of food sustainability: rescuing surplus food, transforming it into nutritious meals, sending unusable food to farms for animal feed, and composting what remains—reducing waste while strengthening the regional food system.

“This extraordinary donation will help us continue preparing and distributing nutritious meals for the Cape Cod community for the next three months,” said Jeni Wheeler, Co-Founder of the Family Table Collaborative. “FTC has rented a mobile freezer to accommodate this incredibly meaningful donation. At the Family Table Collaborative, we work to get to yes for the community. Just because something is hard doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. People, like food, are not one size fits all, so programs like ours are imperative.”

Wheeler holds an MBA from Babson College with a focus in Social Entrepreneurship and was named to the World Central Kitchen Chef Corps in 2024. She also serves on a working group for Governor Maura Healey’s Anti-Hunger Task Force and is a member of the New England chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and the Cape & Islands American Culinary Federation.

“The need for real food, whole food, good food has never been more critical,” Wheeler added. “We are heavily dependent in this country on prepared foods, many of them high in fat, salt, sugar, preservatives—or all of the above. We need to get back to eating real food. Our health depends on it.”

“The United States represents approximately 5% of the world’s population but generates more than 25% of the world’s food waste,” Wheeler continued. “It is easy to hear the word ‘waste’ and feel there is little that can be done. In reality, much of what we call waste is surplus. Surplus only becomes waste when organizations and systems are not in place to redirect it. Donations like this are critically important because they demonstrate how high-quality surplus food can be redirected to nourish communities rather than becoming trash.”

As the Family Table Collaborative celebrates its sixth anniversary this month, the organization continues expanding its impact. With five employees and more than 560 active volunteers, the organization is the epitome of community showing up for community.

FTC’s largest community partner is Whole Foods Market, and the organization works closely with many local farms, the Cape Cod Fishermen’s Alliance, and members of the fishing and shellfishing industry across the region to bring fresh, locally sourced food into the community whenever possible.

Through its many food programs, the Family Table Collaborative promotes creating sustainable change by meeting people where they are, while also encouraging cooking and healthy eating as essential life skills. Ultimately, the organization works to help people help themselves, recognizing that not all food is created equally—and that healthier people create healthier communities.

Media Opportunity

Members of the media are invited to photograph the pickup and delivery of the donated food.

Pickup:

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 8:00 a.m.

Dole & Bailey, Inc.

35 Concord Road

Woburn, MA 01801

Delivery & Unloading:

Approximately 11:00 a.m.

Family Table Collaborative

1338 MA-28

South Yarmouth, MA 02664

About Family Table Collaborative

The Family Table Collaborative is a Cape Cod–based nonprofit dedicated to increasing nutritional security across all 15 towns of Cape Cod. Through food rescue, community partnerships, and sustainable food systems, the organization prepares and distributes nutritious meals while reducing waste and increasing sustainability.

To learn more about the programs they offer, their nonprofit catering and events services, or to volunteer or donate, please visit www.familytablecollaborative.org.

Media Contact:

Jeni Wheeler, Co-Founder

Family Table Collaborative