BASKING RIDGE, NJ — On Sunday afternoons, a group of Somerset County teenagers gathers in the kitchen at Chabad of Somerset County with a simple goal: help feed their neighbors.
Just two hours later, more than 80 freshly prepared meals are ready for delivery through the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, providing nutritious, home-cooked food to residents facing food insecurity.
The initiative, known as Kitchen of Kindness, is a growing partnership between CTeen of Somerset County and the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. Since its launch, the program has produced hundreds of meals that have been distributed throughout the county.
Each cooking session features a different menu designed to provide wholesome and flavorful meals. Recent offerings have included vegetarian chili with cornbread and rice, baked falafel with hummus and Israeli salad, and spiced chicken served with roasted vegetables and couscous. The teens also prepare homemade desserts, including oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
“We're really thrilled to get these prepared meals, and our clients love them,” said Steve Katz, Executive Director of the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. “I really appreciate the partnership and the work we're doing together, and I hope it will be a long and mutually beneficial one.”
The program takes place in Chabad's licensed kitchen in Basking Ridge, where cooking quickly becomes about more than just preparing food. Between chopping vegetables and stirring pots, participants build friendships while giving back to their community.
“I came to cook, and I ended up finding a group of friends,” said Elle Menker, CTeen Volunteering Leader. “It's a really nice way to spend a Sunday, and you leave knowing the food is going to someone who needs it.”
Menker first joined CTeen through Kitchen of Kindness and now leads the organization's volunteer efforts. Many teens who begin by participating in the cooking program continue their involvement through additional service projects, social events, and leadership opportunities offered by CTeen.
“Kitchen of Kindness is often where it starts,” said Rabbi Eli Landes, director of CTeen of Somerset County. “Teens come in to help feed people in need. Before long, they've found friends, a community and a deeper connection to who they are as Jews, and CTeen starts to feel like home.”
Organizers say the partnership continues to expand as more teens get involved, allowing the program to serve even more Somerset County residents.
Kitchen of Kindness is led by Chaya Shemtov of Chabad of Somerset County. The initiative began in 2021 with “Loaves of Love,” a challah delivery program created during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it has grown to include meal trains for families, postpartum brunch kits, and care packages for patients receiving medical treatment away from home.
CTeen of Somerset County, based at Chabad of Somerset County in Basking Ridge, serves Jewish teens in grades 8 through 12 through volunteer opportunities, social programming, Jewish learning, and leadership development. A dedicated CTeen lounge is expected to open soon.
Founded in 1982, the Food Bank Network of Somerset County is a Bridgewater-based nonprofit organization that provides food and basic necessities to county residents while preserving dignity and respect for those it serves.
For more information about Kitchen of Kindness, contact Rabbi Eli Landes at elandes@chabadcentral.org or 908-604-8844 ext. 213.
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