Stop & Shop donates 2 tons of Passover food to JFCS
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’s Kosher for Passover food pantry in Teaneck.
Donated items included gefilte fish, horseradish, chicken broth, chicken soup mix, matzah ball soup mix, tea, mayonnaise, potato pancake mix, Passover blintzes, American cheese, shredded mozzarella, frozen chicken nuggets, 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 people throughout the year, yet they know that many families in the community who have difficult times during the year cannot afford the high cost of kosher-for-Passover food. 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 10 years ago to provide full-time care to a parent suffering from Alzheimer’s. She has not been able to get a full-time job and relies on the JFCS Kosher Food Pantry throughout the year.
“The work they do is vital,” she said. “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.”
“Nearly one in five New Jersey residents are food insecure,” Jason M. Shames, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, said. “JFCS, 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. 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 & 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,” Susan Greenbaum, JFCS’s CEO, said. “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.”
“It is our hope that families in need will be able to enjoy Passover,” Jim Keenoy, Stop & Shop’s director of marketing and external communications, said. “Our effort to assist the residents of northern New Jersey underscores Stop & Shop’s commitment to the communities we serve. 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,” Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said. “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,” Teaneck’s Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin said. “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.”
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