West Orange Bagel Baron Collects 100 Turkeys For Food Pantry: Updated

WEST ORANGE, NJ — One turkey down, 99 more to go. That was the message from Bagels By Jarrett on Thursday, as the West Orange restaurant continued a campaign to collect 100 frozen turkeys for a local food pantry.

Jarrett Seltzer, who has become known for his unique and tasty creations at Bagels By Jarrett at 451 Mount Pleasant Avenue, gave some background about the donation drive in a social media post on Wednesday.

He wrote:

“Please listen up. Before BXJ and COVID, I was very involved with our local food pantry. Once both hit, I had to back down in order to keep the shop running and my employees employed. If you follow the shop then you know I was doing my ‘fill the pod’ event, which was where I personally paid to rent a pod to fill with goods to donate to the food pantry. The first year, we literally filled the whole thing, which had to be $20,000 dollars-worth of food. However, the town of West Orange’s zoning department complained that I had a pod in our parking lot that was out of the way and approved by my landlord. I was looking to do the pod again this year, however, currently during our expansion, I’m yet again being harassed by the same department about my window shades. It’s super sad that it has come to this and I can’t comfortably help feed those in need. With that said, I need to start collecting frozen turkeys for the food pantry. I don’t believe they can come at me for this and we’ve got four days to raise at least 100 frozen turkeys. Please keep in mind that no turkeys go to waste. We help feed those in need on a regular basis and also give them out for Christmas. If you’re able and willing, please bring a frozen turkey to BXJ this week. You’re helping families who need it. You’re making a difference. If you donate a turkey, I’ll make you a bagel sandwich on the house. I’ll lose for their gain. Let’s get this done. 100 turkeys in 4 days.”

Bagels By Jarrett saw its first turkey donation on Thursday morning, Seltzer said in an update.

• See related article: Bagel Baron Teases West Orange With Long-Awaited Restaurant
• See related article: West Orange Bagel Shop Celebrates Strange (But Successful) Year

And for those wondering, yes – Bagels By Jarrett ended up hitting their goal: amassing a total of 103 birds in less than 24 hours.

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