NEW YORK โ Just days before Passover, Deb El Food Products and the Gibber Family partnered with Met Council to carry out the largest Passover food distribution in the organizationโs history, delivering more than 3.5 million pounds of Kosher-for-Passover food to families across New York City and Long Island.
The distribution effort reached more than 350,000 individuals through 250 distribution points, working in coordination with 230 community organizations and local food pantries. More than 800 volunteers, including government officials and community members, participated in the initiative.
A central component of the effort was the donation of 2.1 million eggs through the Great American Egg Drive, a national initiative supported by the American Egg Board. The contribution was made by Deb El Food Products and the Gibber Family to help ensure that families received a key staple for the Passover holiday.
โWe are deeply honored to give back to the communities we serve,โ said Michael Gibber, Vice President of Deb El Food Products. โThis year, we are proud to contribute over 2.1 million eggs to help more than 350,000 people celebrate Passover with dignity. Giving back is at the core of who we are.โ
Elliot Gibber, President and CEO of Deb El Food Products, emphasized the long-standing commitment to community support. โGiving back to our communities is a fundamental value that has been passed down through generations,โ he said. โOur partnership with the American Egg Board allows us to share the nutritional value of eggs with families in need.โ
Expanding Reach Amid Rising Demand
The scale of this yearโs distribution reflects growing demand for food assistance as families face rising food costs and ongoing economic uncertainty. In the weeks leading up to Passover, Met Council distributed more than $6 million worth of food through its network of pantries and partner organizations.
The range of items provided included essential holiday staples such as 61,000 pounds of matzah and more than 51,000 gallons of grape juice. Additional supplies included Kosher-for-Passover chicken, gefilte fish, tuna, applesauce, borscht, cake mix, chopped walnuts, cocoa powder, jam, lemon juice, macaroons, matzah meal, potato starch, sugar, tomato sauce, vinegar, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
David G. Greenfield, CEO of Met Council, highlighted the significance of the partnership. โThe generosity of Deb El Food Products and the Gibber Family in donating 2.1 million eggs is truly remarkable,โ he said. โThis collaboration helps make the holiday brighter for food-insecure families.โ
National Support Through the Egg Industry
The American Egg Board expanded its hunger relief efforts this spring through the Great American Egg Drive, delivering eggs directly from farms to food banks across the United States. The initiative is designed to ensure that families in need have access to affordable and nutritious protein.
Egg farmers across the country regularly donate to food banks and hunger relief programs throughout the year. The Passover initiative builds on these efforts by targeting seasonal demand and ensuring that key holiday foods are available to those who might otherwise go without.
Community Collaboration and Volunteer Effort
The success of the distribution effort was made possible by a broad network of partners, including nonprofit organizations, schools, and local community groups. Volunteers played a central role in packaging and distributing food items, ensuring timely delivery ahead of the holiday.
Organizers noted that the initiative not only provided material support but also reinforced a sense of community connection and shared responsibility.
This yearโs effort marked a significant expansion in both scale and coordination, allowing Met Council to reach deeper into neighborhoods and serve more families than in previous years.
Ongoing Commitment to Food Security
Met Council indicated that its efforts to combat food insecurity extend beyond the Passover season. The organization continues to work with government agencies, corporate partners, and community organizations to provide year-round assistance to Jewish families facing economic hardship.
As inflation and cost pressures persist, demand for food assistance remains elevated. Met Council officials said they are focused on expanding capacity and strengthening partnerships to meet ongoing needs.
The organizationโs Passover campaign serves as both a large-scale relief effort and a broader model for community-driven support.
For additional information or to support Met Councilโs initiatives, the organization directs the public to passover.metcouncil.org.
The American Egg Board, based in Chicago, serves as the national marketing organization for the U.S. egg industry. Its mission includes promoting the consumption of eggs through research, education, and outreach, while supporting initiatives that address food insecurity nationwide.
As families across New York prepared for Passover, the distribution effort ensured that hundreds of thousands could observe the holiday with access to essential foods, reflecting a coordinated response to growing economic challenges and community needs.
