In Masechet Brachot, Mar Zutra says, “אגרא דתעניתא צדקתא”, the main reward for fast days is actually the tzedakah we give. On Tisha B’Av, Solu volunteers fulfilled his instruction with zeal! 

First, we discussed the pain of rising food costs and the Jewish value of feeding the hungry. We learned about “Love Fridges,” community fridges stocked with free, fresh groceries, which people in need can access anonymously. Then, we took action: 

  • 95 trays of nutritious vegetables were prepared (pictured at right)
  • 8 fridges, as well as 6 food-insecure households, received food from our volunteers
  • 24 groups of volunteers made deliveries 
  • 75 volunteers participated, including many children 
More impressive than these numbers was the spirit of ahavat chesed, boundless love, that motivated our volunteers, who chose to prepare food on Tisha b’Av — no easy feat while fasting!


Gratitude 
The coordinators who oversee these fridges were incredibly grateful for our donations. In the words of one coordinator, Susan Boone:
"Thank you, thank you, thank you for the bounty that Marsha and Scott, and Effie and Yael brought to us today for our Love Fridge! I’m sure the folks who come to the fridge today will feel they have hit the jackpot!"  
 

Special thanks to the families who went grocery-shopping, donating their money and time, and to Chef Bryan Gryka and Milt’s BBQ for donating takeout containers.