Girl Scout Cookie Drive Nets 160 Boxes for JFS Pantry in Elizabeth

Donation of sweet treats will provide a special treat for clients of the kosher food pantry.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:48pm

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Jewish Family Service of Central NJ received a spring donation of 160 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies for their food pantry in Elizabeth, thanks to an organized drive by Plainfield resident Ellen Berman. The cookies will provide a special treat for the pantry's 1,000 monthly clients.

Why it matters

The donation of Girl Scout cookies is an unusual treat for the clients of the kosher food pantry, who typically rely on the pantry for basic meal staples. The cookies will provide a morale boost and special gift, especially for families with children.

The details

Ellen Berman, a religious school teacher at Temple Sholom in Scotch Plains, coordinated with local Girl Scouts to allow temple members and others to purchase cookies to donate to the Jewish Family Service food pantry in Elizabeth. The 160 boxes of cookies were then delivered to the pantry, which serves around 1,000 clients each month.

  • The cookie drive was organized in honor of the Jewish holiday of Purim, which occurs around the same time of year that Girl Scout cookies become available.

The players

Ellen Berman

A Plainfield resident who organized the Girl Scout cookie drive for the Jewish Family Service food pantry.

Jewish Family Service of Central NJ

A nonprofit organization that operates a kosher food pantry in Elizabeth, New Jersey, serving around 1,000 clients per month.

Temple Sholom

A synagogue in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where Berman is a religious school teacher and coordinated with local Girl Scouts for the cookie drive.

Danielle McLeer

The director of outreach and volunteers for the Jewish Family Service of Central NJ.

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What they’re saying

“What I liked about the idea to begin with was good for the Girl Scouts, and it was good for the people at Jewish Family Service.”

— Ellen Berman, Organizer of the cookie drive

“This is a wonderful donation, as we do not usually receive sweet treats for our clients and they love donations like this, especially if they have children in their families.”

— Danielle McLeer, Director of outreach & volunteers, Jewish Family Service of Central NJ

The takeaway

The Girl Scout cookie drive demonstrates how small acts of generosity can make a big difference for those in need, providing a special treat that brings joy to families served by the local food pantry.