As the sukkah panels, decorations and schach are wrapped up and put to rest dryly and securely, the discussion and awareness that the Sukkah Exchange has caused among Yidden in the tri-state area has yet to die down.

Coordinators who anticipated a closed program after Sukkos were surprised at the volume of calls and messages coming in, post yomtov, asking for and donating Sukkos. It seems a year in advance is not too early and when klal yisrael catches onto something good it doesn’t let go so easily.

Sukkah volunteers were busy around the clock, with the frenzy reaching an all-time high on the 2 days before Sukkos. Sukkah Exchange teams were matching Sukkahs between donators and receivers, transporting sukkahs from out of town to Lakewood, and building Sukkahs for home-bounds or others in special circumstances. The scope of the operations resembled the structure and efficiency of well-orchestrated mini military operation with attention given to the smallest and largest details. All those involved came into yomtov with a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that they were sitting in the sukkah together so many others who may not have had the ability to do so without their efforts.

May the tremendous amount of zechusim and ahavas chinam that were created through the Sukkah Exchange continue to reap benefits for the entire klal throughout the year.

For more information about Chesed of Lakewood or to become a COL volunteer call the hotline at 732 901 0482. Donations can be made at www.chesedoflakewood.org