New foundation gives free sukkahs to Jewish families nationwide

The Sukkah Foundation launched nationwide on June 29, 2026, to provide free sukkahs and holiday materials to Jewish families, schools and congregations that cannot afford them. The effort builds on 30 years of work by The Sukkah Project and is seeking donations ahead of Sukkot 2026.

Why it matters: - The Sukkah Foundation is trying to remove cost as a barrier to celebrating Sukkot, a holiday centered on gathering, hospitality and shared meals. - The program is aimed at Jewish families, schools and congregations that would otherwise go without a sukkah. - The initiative extends access to a core holiday practice into communities that may not be able to fund one on their own.

What happened: - The Sukkah Foundation launched nationwide on June 29, 2026, in Grand Junction, Colorado. - The new charitable initiative provides free, durable sukkahs and holiday care packages with prayer resources, decorations and educational materials. - Abram Herman founded and directs the Foundation and also owns The Sukkah Project. - The Foundation grew out of The Sukkah Project, a family-run sukkah workshop founded 30 years ago by Steve and Judith Herman. - The family business has helped thousands of families, schools and synagogues build sukkahs over three decades.

The details: - The Foundation's first-year goal is to place sukkahs with 40 to 50 families nationwide for Sukkot 2026/5787. - Sukkot 2026/5787 begins the evening of September 25, 2026, which corresponds to 15 Tishrei. - Each family will receive a complete sukkah built to last for years and shipped to their door in September. - The care package is designed to help first-time celebrants and returning families build traditions around the holiday. - The Foundation plans to expand the same support to religious schools, synagogues and community organizations. - A gift of $720 sponsors one complete sukkah for one family. - Donations of any size are being accepted at sukkahfoundation.org. - Donations are tax-deductible. - Families can apply through the end of July at sukkahfoundation.org. - The application is brief and confidential. - Rabbis, Jewish educators and social service professionals are encouraged to share the application with families who could benefit. - The Sukkah Foundation is a fiscally sponsored project of UpStart, a national 501(c)(3) public charity that supports Jewish innovation.

Between the lines: - The launch positions the Herman family’s sukkah business as a charitable access point, not just a commercial maker of holiday structures. - The Foundation is using a donor-funded model to distribute a physical religious item and supporting materials together, which could deepen participation beyond the initial delivery. - The focus on dignity and privacy suggests the organization is trying to reduce stigma for families seeking help. - The plan to begin with families before expanding to institutions signals a phased rollout rather than an immediate broad distribution effort.

What's next: - Families have until the end of July to apply for Sukkot 2026 support. - The Foundation will ship sukkahs in September ahead of the holiday. - The organization is seeking donations now to reach more families in its first year. - The Foundation plans to grow beyond families and eventually serve schools, synagogues and community organizations.

The bottom line: - The Sukkah Foundation is turning a 30-year family business into a charitable effort to make Sukkot more affordable and more widely accessible.