Stop & Shop Donates Two Tons of Food to Kosher for Passover Food Pantry

Elected officials, members of the clergy, and Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) and Stop & Shop representatives joined as Stop & Shop made an emergency contribution to the JFCS Kosher for Passover Food Pantry in Teaneck. From left to right: Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin; Rabbi Steven Sirbu, President of the North Jersey Board of Rabbis and Temple Emeth in Teaneck; Rabbi Joel Pitkowski, Congregation BethSholom Teaneck; Craig Szymanski, Manager, Teaneck Stop & Shop; Susan Greenbaum, CEO, Jewish Family & Children's Services of Northern New Jersey; Rabbi Jennifer Schlosberg, Glen Rock Jewish Center; Rabbi Chaim Poupko, Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood and the President of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County; Jason M. Shames, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Stop & Shop made an emergency donation of two tons of Kosher for Passover food to the Jewish Family & Children's Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) Kosher for Passover Food Pantry in Teaneck.

Among the items donated by Stop & Shop: gefilte fish, horseradish, chicken broth, chicken soup mix, matzoh ball soup mix, tea, Passover pancake mix, mayonnaise, potato pancake mix, Passover blintzes, American cheese, shredded mozzarella, frozen chicken nuggets, Passover salad dressing, almond butter, cream cheese, sour cream cashews, almonds, dried fruit, frozen vegetables, kosher salt, macaroons, cotton seed oil, olive oil, tomato sauce, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate chips, ketchup, and cooking spray.

JFCS officials say they provide food pantry services to nearly 1,500 individuals throughout the year, yet know that many families in the community who are on the cusp of needing services cannot afford the tremendous food bills that come at Passover time. The Kosher Food Pantry opened in 2009 and began to offer Passover provisions in 2010.

Robben Murray of Rochelle Park, a former Assistant Program Manager at UMDNJ was forced to leave the workforce more than ten years ago to provide fulltime care to a parent suffering from Alzheimer’s. She has not been able to secure appropriate full-time employment and says she relies on the JFCS Kosher Food Pantry throughout the year. “The work they do is vital. If not for the service they provide, I and others in need would be forced to do without. I especially appreciate that their efforts allow me to appropriately celebrate Passover. Stop & Shop’s generosity and support of JFCS’ mission is just incredible. I want them to know how much their kindness means to me.”

Melanie Koslow of Fair Lawn has been a beneficiary of the JFCS Kosher Food Pantry since 2008. A former social service case worker, she says she needed to be taught it was alright to accept assistance. “They have been there for me whenever I needed their help. They have provided me with Shabbat provisions and even make sure I have candles for Sabbath. They are awesome. I am so appreciative of the support Stop & Shop is providing to the pantry, they are making it possible for so many area residents in need to be able to celebrate the Passover holiday.”

“Nearly one in five New Jersey residents are food insecure. Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey, with the help of Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and other partners, provides invaluable support for food insecure individuals through both their food pantry and Kosher Meals-On-Wheels programs,” said Jason M. Shames, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. “Individual philanthropy is critical to supporting these programs. We have many generous donors; yet the enormous need in the community outstrips available resources. As such, support from dedicated corporate citizens is critical to meeting communal needs. Stop and Shop’s long-standing commitment to philanthropy in local communities is an expression of their corporate culture and of the values that we all share. We thank them for their continuing work to help the vulnerable in our community.”

“Stop & Shop’s generosity will allow us to provide Passover food to many families in our community who would otherwise go without,” said Susan Greenbaum, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey. “For Stop & Shop to step up and offer this type of donation is beyond expectation, and we are incredibly grateful. A contribution of this magnitude goes a long way to help JFCS help those in need.”

“People in financial crisis in Bergen and Passaic Counties – particularly Jews – are sometimes invisible. They are invisible because suburban poverty doesn’t look like the images of urban poverty to which we are exposed. People in severe financial trouble live in our neighborhoods, are well put-together, send their children to school, pray next to us, and for as long as possible keep up these appearances,” said Jessica Fleischer, Chief Operations Officer, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey. “Behind the exterior, however, homes are in foreclosure; family members shower in the dark, in cold water, due to utilities being shut off; clothing and cars that appear stylish were purchased before the economic downturn at a time when finances were better; despite financial aid, yeshiva tuition remains unpaid; children in larger families eat rationed food; people forgo essential medical appointments or medications. JFCS is here for them, with a true sensitivity to preserving their privacy as well as their dignity.”

“It is our hope that families in need will be able to enjoy Passover. Our effort to assist the residents of Northern New Jersey underscores Stop & Shop’s commitment to the communities we serve,” said Jim Keenoy, Stop & Shop’s Director of Marketing and External Communications. “We appreciate the efforts of the dedicated staff and volunteers of the JFCS Kosher Food Pantry and of our elected officials as we work together to make this a joyful Passover.”

“Passover is a time for Jewish people around the world to come together and feast with their families,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “Especially during the holidays, families should not worry or struggle to put food on their tables. I applaud the generosity of the Kosher for Passover Food Pantry and Stop & Shop, and hope others will be inspired to help feed Bergen County families in need throughout the year.”

“The Township of Teaneck greatly appreciates the work of the Kosher for Passover Food Pantry and thanks Stop & Shop for their assistance in this effort,” said Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin. “Food insecurity is not something to be taken lightly and I applaud any and all efforts to assure that residents of Teaneck and Bergen County have access to quality food at all times, especially during Passover.”

“I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the Jewish Family & Children’s Services and Stop & Shop for helping families in need during the Passover season,” said Englewood Mayor Frank Huttle. “Hunger often hides right in front of our eyes, among our neighbors and friends. That is why I am proud to support JFCS as it identifies families in need, and Stop & Shop for its generous emergency assistance gift. Their combined efforts will ensure that these families will receive the pantry services so vital to them at this important time of year.”

“At Passover, Jews sit down at their Seder tables and recite a special declaration: Let all who are hungry come and eat. It is considered a mitzvah, a religious commandment, to feed the hungry,” said Rabbi Jennifer Schlosberg of the Glen Rock Jewish Center. “Yet food that is Kosher for Passover is particularly expensive and the need within the Bergen County Jewish community is great. The work being done by Jewish Family & Children's Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) to organize a kosher food pantry is an amazing way of fulfilling this commandment to feed the hungry. I applaud their efforts and extend my greatest appreciation to Stop & Shop, a corporate sponsor of this program, who has donated two tons of Kosher for Passover food this year. I encourage other corporations and businesses to offer their assistance as well.”

“Poverty can take many forms. It is important to recognize that there are many people who live within our communities who are struggling to put food on the table and meet other basic needs,” said Rabbi Chaim Poupko, of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, and the President of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County. “With the coming Passover holiday, some of our neighbors are forced to make difficult choices to provide for their family. We are remarkably fortunate that JFCS is dedicated to address this critically important issue. Stop & Shop deserves special recognition for their generosity in addressing these challenges. Their donation of two tons of Kosher for Passover food to JFCS’s Kosher for Passover Food Pantry will enable countless families in the Jewish Community to celebrate the holiday and provide for their families with a sense of dignity. The RCBC is enormously grateful to Stop & Shop and JFCS for being exemplars of charity and kindness.”

“Although we live in a county with a considerable amount of wealth, no one should mistake the privilege of some for the notion that everyone in our area is comfortable. There are thousands of families, including many within the Jewish community, who need help to pay their monthly bills and who are food insecure,” said Rabbi Joel Pitkowsky of Congregation Beth Sholom in Teaneck. “Jewish Family and Children's Services does a tremendous job in seeking out those members of our community in need of help, and providing them the services, support and assistance they require. Stop & Shop's Passover food donation is vital to the health and well-being of so many families. I am grateful that Stop & Shop has made helping the local community members a priority. The extra help and support that Stop & Shop is giving families in the days leading up to Passover will not only help ensure that many families who might be food insecure will be able to eat on Passover without fear of running out of food, but it reminds all of us that corporate America can be a great source of inspiration and help day in and day out. We are grateful for their support.”

“As a congregational Rabbi in Bergen County, I see with my own eyes the need for a kosher food pantry in our area, especially in the weeks before Passover. Sudden job loss, medical problems or some other unforeseen crisis can swiftly put a family in a position of food insecurity. In these cases, the Jewish Family and Children’s Services kosher food pantry is an essential resource to ensure that food is on the table even when money is tight,” said Rabbi Steven Sirbu, President of the North Jersey Board of Rabbis and the spiritual leader of Temple Emeth in Teaneck. “As you may imagine, JFCS can’t keep the shelves of their pantry stocked on the donations of individuals alone. As a community we are blessed that corporate citizens such as Stop & Shop do their part to ensure that, come Seder time, all who are hungry can come and eat. As a rabbi in the community, I offer my thanks and praise to Stop & Shop and all who support the JFCS kosher food pantry.”

Hunger Issues Across New Jersey:

Almost 900,000 people in New Jersey rely on food banks, and 7.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by a food bank partner charity.

• Almost 340,000 children in New Jersey (nearly 1 in 5) are food insecure.
• 77% said they had to choose between paying for utilities or food.
• 73% chose between medicine and food.
• 70% chose between housing and food.
• 61% chose between transportation and food.
• 35% chose between education and food.
• 75% said they purchased inexpensive, unhealthy food as a way to cope.
• 57% had a household member with high blood pressure.
• 28% had a household member with diabetes.