Sukkos sneaks up on you.
You know it’s coming. Of course you know. The calendar has not been keeping secrets. But somehow there is always that point when you look around and realize the sukkah still needs work, half the family needs shoes, the freezer is not nearly as full as you thought, and Dov, your helpful Yeshiva Bochur, just informed you that the old sukkah lights stopped working last year.
So you make a list.
Then another list.
And, if you’re being organized, one master list that hopefully prevents you from discovering Erev Yom Tov afternoon that you have six bottles of ketchup and no grape juice.
A good Sukkos shopping list really does help. There is always so much to buy, and if you just go to the store and shop aisle to aisle without a list, you will definitely forget some basic items. The realization will dawn on you just as you get home and unpack: “Oh no, I forgot the meat!” Or sometimes, even small things like forgetting to buy tissues can be maddening.
Part One: Building a Sukkos Shopping List That Actually Works
The easiest way to plan is not to think of Sukkos as one giant shopping trip.
Break it down.
Think sukkah first. Then food. Then clothing. Then Chol Hamoed and all the odds and ends that usually get remembered after you thought you were finished.
Start With the Sukkah
The first thing to do is look through your attic and see what you have from last year’s Chag.
Check the sukkah panels, schach, poles, ties, zip ties (these are super important and often forgotten), lights, extension cords, foldable tables, and chairs.
Normally when we store away our sukkah, we don’t think, “Is this working or broken?” We just dump it back because this is what we do every year. So, it’s a great idea to check first if something cracked or went missing.
Then look at decorations.
Do you need hooks? String? Tape? Replacement lights? New decorations for the kids to make? A plastic tablecloth or outdoor mat?
And if the weather tends to be unpredictable where you live, think practically. Covers, waterproof storage bins, extra clips, and something to keep paper goods or cushions dry can save a lot of aggravation.
Best Shopping Tip: Plan the Seudos Before You Shop
This is where a little advance planning saves both money and refrigerator space.
Write down each Meal you expect to serve and roughly what you want on the menu. Knowing which nights are meat, which meals will be lighter, and when guests are coming makes the grocery list much more efficient.
Start with staples. Challah ingredients or bought challah, wine or grape juice for Kiddush, meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, side dishes, desserts, drinks, condiments, disposable pans, foil, storage containers, and paper goods if you use them.
Then add breakfast and snacks. I find the snacks in between meals the most forgotten part of Yom Tov and it is so useful to have cookies around to fill the gap between meals.
List of useful things you will need
Eggs, cereal, milk, yogurt, coffee, fruit, snacks, and something easy to pull out when everybody is hungry but nobody is prepared to start another full meal.
You may also want a separate section for guests. More chairs. More serving pieces. More challah. More dessert than you think you need (this one rarely goes to waste).
Arba Minim and Shul Needs
Make sure the arba minim are ordered or purchased in time.
Depending on your household, you may also need a lulav holder, carrying case, rings, or a safe place to store the esrog. If boys or men will be spending long stretches in shul over Yom Tov, it is worth checking machzorim, tallis bags, siddurim, and anything else that tends to disappear exactly when everyone is trying to leave.
A few minutes now. Much less shouting later.
Think Ahead to Chol Hamoed
Chol Hamoed has its own shopping list.
If you are planning outings, think sunscreen, water bottles, snacks, backpacks, hats, comfortable shoes, wipes, portable chargers, and whatever else your particular trip requires.
For days closer to home, stock some easy lunches and activity supplies.
Crafts. Games. Baking ingredients. Maybe a new puzzle.
These are some of the regular Chol Hamoed supplies you will be happy you bought ahead of time.
Do One Final Household Check
The least glamorous section may be the most useful.
Toilet paper. Tissues. Garbage bags. Foil. Dish soap. Laundry detergent. Paper towels. Shampoo. Toothpaste. Batteries. Light bulbs.
The things that have absolutely nothing to do with Sukkos until you run out of them on Yom Tov.
Once these categories are covered, the list feels manageable.
And then there is another Sukkos shopping list.
A much bigger one.
The Sukkos Shopping List You Never See
At Lev LaLev , preparing for Sukkos means working through many of those same categories.
There is one obvious difference.
We are not shopping for one family.
The staff at Lev LaLev are providing for orphaned and disadvantaged girls who rely on Lev LaLev for the things a parent would normally notice, buy, replace, organize, and quietly take care of before Yom Tov.
So the list gets long very quickly.
Every Girl Needs Yom Tov Clothing
Start with clothes.
Each girl needs appropriate, up-to-date Yom Tov clothing that fits her now. This list includes skirts, tops, dresses (both for weekdays and special occasions), sweaters, shoes, stockings, pajamas, and personal accessories.
And this is for around 200 girls!
Different sizes. Different tastes. Different needs.
When we at Lev LaLev go shopping Erev Yom Tov for clothes for our girls, it is not just a simple matter of ordering “one size fits all” and calling it done. We first need to know who needs what, which girl has outgrown her outfit and needs a new one, etc. We need to find the best stores that help us dress the girls with both fashion and dignity. That takes time. It also takes money.
Then There Are the Seudos
We are dealing with very large quantities of food on a daily basis but Yom Tov, especially Sukkos is a different story..
Lev LaLev needs to provide festive Yom Tov Seudos, on top of quick snacks and drinks in between meals.
Think of the numbers we need: challah, chicken, meat, fish, produce, side dishes, cakes, grape juice, drinks, paper goods, and pantry staples.
Then multiply this list by 200! This is the enormous task of preparing Yom Tov at Lev LaLev.
And keep going through Chol Hamoed.
A home full of girls does not become less hungry because the big seuda ended three hours ago.
The Sukkah Has to Be Ready Too
There is the sukkah itself.
Repairs. Schach. Lighting. Tables. Chairs. Decorations. Supplies for the girls to make their own decorations.
Those little handmade projects matter. They give the girls a chance to prepare for Yom Tov in the same ordinary, familiar way children do in homes everywhere.
Some decorations may be neat and symmetrical.
Others may require a generous interpretation of the word “star.”
Up they go.
Chol Hamoed Takes Planning
Then comes Chol Hamoed.
Trips and activities cost money before anyone steps onto the bus.
There is transportation, admission, food, drinks, activity supplies, and often extra staffing or supervision to consider. Even a simple outing needs planning when you are responsible for a full group of girls.
And those outings count.
The girls hear what classmates are doing. They talk about plans. They look forward to getting out, doing something fun, and having the kind of Chol Hamoed memories other children take for granted.
And Regular Life Does Not Pause
This is the part that rarely makes it onto a Sukkos campaign graphic.
Shampoo still runs out.
A girl still needs all the back-to-school equipment that every other child her age needs.
Laundry detergent still needs replacing. Appointments still happen. Toiletries still need restocking. School supplies are still being used. The kitchen still needs to function the day after Yom Tov.
So Lev LaLev’s Sukkos shopping list includes both Yom Tov extras and ordinary necessities.
The festive things are easy to picture.
The ordinary ones are just as necessary.
What Is on Lev LaLev's Sukkos Shopping List?
A working list may include:
- Yom Tov dresses, skirts, and tops
- Shoes, stockings, socks, and hair accessories
- Toiletries and personal-care items
- Sukkah supplies and decorations
- Food for every Yom Tov Seuda
- Challah, wine or grape juice, drinks, and desserts
- Breakfasts and snacks throughout Sukkos
- Chol Hamoed trip costs
- Transportation
- Activity and craft supplies
- Simchas Torah treats
- Household supplies
- Everyday clothing and personal necessities that still need to be replaced during Yom Tov season
There are receipts behind that list.
But there are girls behind the receipts.
Help Us Check Off the List
By this point, your own Sukkos shopping list may already be taped to the fridge, sitting in your phone, or scribbled on the back of an envelope you are desperately trying not to lose.
Before you finish it, take one look at ours.
A donation to Lev LaLev can help cover a girl’s Yom Tov clothing, contribute toward a Seuda, help pay for a Chol Hamoed outing, or go toward the ordinary household needs that keep piling up right alongside the special ones. Giving to these girls on Sukkos is true tzedaka and is your way of showing your care and empathy.
Help us cross it off.
