b'Close your eyes and try to imagine a Shabbos meal without wine for Kiddush or challahs. Im sure you cant. Neither should any other family of Klal Yisrael.With your help, Tomchei Shabbos helps ensure that Shabbos will be a joyous day for families in our community in need. Every Wednesday night and before Yomim Tovim, a group of dedicated individuals get together on a purely volunteer basis and organize the delivery of food boxes.Tomchei Shabbos operates from one large warehouse. The volunteers gather the food from local merchants and wholesalers, pack the cartons and deliver them to the families. There are no administrative costs. Your entire contribution is used for the Shabbos packages. TheannualbudgetofTomcheiShabbosisalmost$1,000,.000.This moneygoesdirectlytocoverthecostoffood.Therearenopaid employees. Wherever possible, the food is ordered directly from the wholesale source. Approximately 400 families receive help from this organization. Neither the packer nor the driver knows the identity of the recipient.Preparing for Yomim Tovim and especially Pesach is a huge undertaking. In addition to the fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs and chicken which are usually included, matzos, potato starch and other key Pesach foods are added.Tomchei Shabbos is not taken for granted by the recipients. When a familyisfinanciallyable,TomcheiShabbosiscontactedandthe deliveriess topped. Some families are able to provide completely for themselves, while others may need a little help over Yom Tov.The volunteers of Tomchei Shabbos are deeply committed. In almost forty years, every single package has been delivered, regardless of the weather.Tomchei Shabbos is grateful for the support of the community.RUCHAMA ZLOTNICKMEMORIAL LECTURE I 2025 '