(Courtesy of Shearit HaPlate) Nestled in the heart of Teaneck for the past 18 years, Shearit HaPlate of Bergen County is a local kosher food pantry dedicated to supporting Jewish Bergen County families facing food insecurity through prepared meals.
It is more than just a food pantry—it’s a lifeline for hundreds of families in need. Our mission is simple yet impactful: to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry while reducing food waste in a meaningful way.
We collect and distribute high-quality kosher food with RCBC-approved hasgachas each week to more than 100 local families with close to 200 children. Generous local businesses, including Cedar Market, Grand and Essex, Maadan, Seasons to Go, Fialkoff Poppy’s Pizza, Hot Bagels, Petak and Silverleaf Catering, and local yeshivas and day camps regularly donate their unsold but perfectly good food. Additionally, we receive prepared leftovers from bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings and kiddushim, repurposing them to serve those who need them most.
Our dedicated team of over 40 volunteers works tirelessly each day to repackage large catering trays into individual portions as soon as they are received, to preserve freshness. The fresh food assists elderly individuals, those undergoing medical treatments, single-parent households and families facing financial hardships. This ensures that nutritious meals are accessible to all, with dignity and care. Appointments are available to ensure privacy for those who use the pantry.
Recipients can visit our dedicated private location to “shop” for prepared meals that they enjoy. Offerings range from challah, sushi, soups, tuna, pasta and various salads, to proteins, and even beloved herring, potato kugel and cholent! By allowing families to select the meals they prefer, we provide not only nourishment but also dignity and choice.
Be sure to keep an eye out for our annual BC Purim Drive in March—a great opportunity to give back and support local families in need with your leftover Purim candy.
The pantry operates entirely through volunteers and community donations, and we need your help to keep going. Every dollar helps us cover the costs that make this all possible. If you have leftover simcha or catering food, we’d love to put it to good use. And if you’re able to chip in financially, it would mean the world to the families who rely on us. Please consider donating: shpbc.org/donate.html, Zelle: [email protected] or scan the QR code.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the pantry, please reach out confidentially via email at [email protected].
To donate food, email [email protected] or [email protected], or call
917-576-6230.
Together, we can ensure that every family in our community has food on their table.
