Tomchei Shabbos of Queens (TSQ) operates on a mission of putting the Queens Jewish underprivileged families before other charities, as they help our neighbors in our community. Assembly Member Sam Berger grew up watching the selfless work of TSQ, and this past week joined President Shimi Pelman and warehouse operations director Rabbi Yitzchak Katz to present $340,000 in a funding allocation that he secured from the State of New York State. The all-volunteer based group serves as "middlemen" between the hungry and those willing to share, and spends at least 90 cents of each donated dollar on food for distribution.
Nearly 45 years ago, a group of young men in Forest Hills began the weekly Wednesday night effort with volunteers from diverse Jewish backgrounds who each arranged food packages that were delivered to the needy by many local volunteers. In more recent years, services have expanded into underserved parts of Long Island, and today, upwards of 400 packages are delivered weekly. A recipient might be a woman with children with an absent husband, or an elderly couple on a very limited pension, or a family whose breadwinner has suddenly lost their source of income due to job loss or illness. The common denominator is feeding the hungry - plain and simple.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
