Teaneck—The annual pre-Pesach face-off between corned beef and pastrami (Noah’s Ark) and General Tso’s chicken (Chopstix) will take place from March 20, 2014 through April 13, 2014. The “contest” is used to fill local food pantries.

“Each year customers of Noah’s Ark and Chopstix vie for the biggest donations to help their neighbors, while proving their loyalty to their favorite kosher food source» said Noam Sokolow, owner of Noah’s Ark Deli & Shelly’s Dairy Restaurant.

“Last year’s challenge realized over 300 bags of cereal, pancake mix, flour, tuna, ketchup, diapers and toiletries for the Food Pantry, just as supplies were low and they were most in need,” stated Elie Y. Katz of Chopstix. The challenge began when several Chopstix customers suggested that they do something useful with the food they were literally throwing out.

This year the donated food will go to the Teaneck Helping Hands Food Pantry at 195 West Englewood Avenue, which serves hundreds of families in need and is the logical and neighborly beneficiary. Recent years have seen a marked increase in demand for food and a sharp decrease in donations.  Winters in general, and this year’s bitter snowy winter in particular, has created a crisis as prices of basic foods have risen and people could not get out to bring donations in.  The original drive resulted in vans of food being donated, and Katz and Sokolow say that each year since, donations have increased. They would like to see a major increase in those donations this year.

Donations of unopened, non-refrigerated food and toiletries will be accepted (and appreciated) at the following locations: Chopstix, 172 West Englewood Avenue; Noah›s Ark, 493 Cedar Lane and Shelly’s Dairy Restaurant, 482 Cedar Lane—all in Teaneck.

The Teaneck Helping Hands Food Pantry receives desperately needed food, the customers clear their pantries and help others at the same time and the business owners get bragging rights about their patrons. Last year, Noah’s Ark won the contest. This year, said Elie Katz, Chopstix is looking to take back the title—and reminds everyone this is one contest everyone wins.