Step 1: Hire the Right Caterer

You need your caterer to agree to your plan. Some caterers will pack up the leftovers themselves. You give them the to-go containers and labels and the coolers and they will agree to load them. Or the caterer can agree to give you all the leftovers and then you and your guests pack them up at the mitzvah as an activity.

Step 2: Get the Supplies

See if you can get a loan from your parents to buy these supplies and then pay them back from your B’nei Mitzvah gift money.

  • Serving-size to-go containers like these

  • Labels to describe the food and/or allergens

  • Coolers

  • Ice Packs

Or sign up HERE to use the ice packs and coolers I bought. This is only available in the metro Philly area. You are responsible for getting the equipment from the last person who had it and then giving it to the next person or returning it.

Here are the coolers I bought and you can borrow. We specifically got ones with wheels and a handle so they are easy to transport when they are full.

Step 3: Assign Roles For Helpers

Here are some important roles to assign beforehand:

  • Put the ice packs in freezers to freeze them in the days leading up to the mitzvah. This might be at the event space, with your caterer, at your synagogue, or even with some of your local guests. Make sure the ice goes in the freezer far enough in advance to be frozen by the time of the event. Also make sure everyone knows who is bringing them to the event.

  • Print out labels for the to-go containers. Ideally, the label will describe the food, allergens, and the date it was packed. Talk to the caterer ahead of time and estimate what types of dishes may be left over and print out a bunch of labels for those. Note major allergens like: nuts, dairy, egg, soy, or wheat. At the very least, in advance, print out labels with the date of the event and “may container allergens.” That way when people take it from the fridge they will know if it is too old or if they should avoid it because they have allergies.

  • Bring the coolers, ice packs, to-go containers, and labels to the event.

  • Divide up the big platters of food from the event and repack them in the small to-go containers

  • Take the full, cold coolers from the event to the mutual aid fridge. Remember the food needs to stay cold so it either needs to go into a kitchen fridge or the mutual aid fridge that night. If you have a lot of leftovers, have several different helpers to take coolers to multiple fridges. Make sure each driver knows the address of the fridge they are going to.

  • Clean up. After you unload the food and before you return the equipment, wipe out the ice packs and coolers with sanitizing wipes.

  • Return the coolers and ice packs either to the next mitzvah kid or the synagogue.

Step 4: The Event!

Make sure whoever packs the food into the to-go containers and loads them into the coolers follows the directions to keep the food safe and healthy. Otherwise people could get sick from the food. Share this link about food safety with the people involved in packing and transporting the food.

Have an awesome time at your celebration!

Ask the guests who drop the leftovers off to take a picture and then post it here on this website!