16 Friday, May 4, 1919
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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v
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Senior Service Corps: People Aiding Others and Themselves
Once a week Bess Sten-
buch goes to the Jewish
Community Center nur-
sery, where the children,
who call her "grandma," ea-
gerly await her arrival.
With 39 other senior citi-
zens, Mrs. Stenbuch is a
member of the Senior Serv-
ice Corps, a program spon-
sored by the Jewish Voca-
tional Service-Community
Workshop, a member
agency of the Jewish Wel-
fare Federation.
Members of the corps
work as volunteers at non-
profit Jewish Vocational
Service-Community Work-
shop, 'a member agency of
the Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion.
Members of the corps
work as volunteers at non-
Incredible Edibles
Duisine of Hungary and France
Elegant Hors d'Oeuvres and Pastries
Catering for that Special Occasion
or small party
Senior Service Corps volunteers at the Jewish
Community Center are; from left, Ann Chudler, Rose
Venitsky, Nathalie Rosemann, Gertrude Adels, coor-
dinator Rita Russakoff, Edna Silk, 'Grandma" Bess
Stenbuch and Lena Waldbott.
that meet both the needs
of the volunteers and of
the agencies."
For some of the corps
members, going to . work,
even on a volunteer basis
once a week, is a big change
in their lives.
"For women who have
never had to work, starting
something like this is a big
risk," said Senior Service
Corps Coordinator Rita
Russakoff. "They worry
that they have no skills,
that they won't be able to do
the job, and they worry
about what the agency staff
will think of them.
"Once they get adjusted,
they do fine. For example,
we have some women work-
ing at Sinai Hospital pac-
kaging surgical equipment
and some working in the
hospital gift shop: As they
work there longer and get
more involved, they're get-
ting to know people on the
staff and beginning more
and more enthusiastic," she
said.
"Others work at the
Jewish Community Center,
in the gift shop, nursery of
offices. We have one man
who works with the chil-
dren, and one day a four-
year-old said to him,
`Grandpa, can I sit in your
lap?' Well, that just made
his day! And the children
also benefit from the contact
with older adults."
Since socialization is an
important part of the Senior
Service Corps program,
group meetings for volun-
teers are held regularly dur-
ing lunch hour at the agen-
cies where they work.
"The meetings give the
memebers a chance to bring
up things that concern them
and this fosters a sense of
cooperation and support
among the volunteers at
each site," Mrs. Russakoff
said. "We're also working on
having speakers come in to
discuss the work of the
agency and also to talk
about topics that concern
senior citizens, such as So-
cial Security and Medi-
care."
profit Jewish agencies in and who, for one reason
the area.
or another, are unable to
"I'm getting a tremen- join a regular volunteer
dous salary," Mrs. Sten- program.
SPECIALIST
S Foreign Car Service
buch said. "I'm getting a
!N
The average age of corps
feeling of accomplish- volunteers is 72; the oldest
VOLKSWAGEN
AND
ment and of being is 84.
PORSCHE CARS
needed."
One problem which iso-
Feeling needed is a basic lates many senior adults is
CALL
human requirement — and transportation. The Senior
548-3926
one that's unfortunately un- Service Corps provides free
filled for many senior citi- door-to-door transportation
548-4160
zens.
by mini-bus for its mem-
541.9704
"When people retire and bers, Ms. Nurenberg said.
their children are grown up Those who use public trans-
1018 W. 9 Mile Rd.
FERNDALE
Between Lovernots
and often live far away, they portation or their own cars
Alfons G. Rehme
MICH
& Ptnehurst
have no responsibilities ex- are reimbursed.
cept to themselves, and they
JVS-CW also provides
can begin to feel like nonen-- lunch money reimburse-
tities," said Barbara ment for seniors who are on
Nurenberg, JVE-CW's as- the job at noontime. sWe
sistatn executive director. don't want anyone to feel he
"They need the feeling of or she can't afford to par-
being needed, of feeling use- ticipate because of the addi-
ful to someone. It adds tional cost of transporation
meaning to their lives."
or lunch," said JVS-CW
will be holding the
"People tend to become President Stuart E.
following . Film Festival:
depressed when they're Hertzberg.
alone and inactive," added
Physical problems also
Shirley Schlang, a counsel- prevent many of the elderly
Thursday, May 10, 8:00 P.M.
ing supervisor at the from joining regular volun-
agency. `They know that if teer programs.
they stay at home all the
"These volunteers
time, they only worry about can't be on their feet for
their problems."
long periods," Ms.
The Senior Service Nurenberg said. "Some
Corps, which began last can't do a lot of walking
MONDAY, MAY 21 — 8 P.M.
September with a grant around or bending and
from the Jewish Welfare stooping on the job. Many
Federation's , Jewish of them can't do work
Community Foundation, that requires good vision.
serves men and women We've worked with the
over the age of 60 who participating agencies to
want to work a minimum develop volunteer jobs
of four hours one day per
week, who don't mind
working without pay,
NEW ORLEANS (JTA) judge's emphasis on
— The Federal Court of Ap
Federenko's "exemplary life
peals heard arguments this in the U.S." and the judge's
week in the government's remarks in a press confer-
appeal against a lower court ence while the trial was in
ruling permitting former progress questioning the
Nazi campguard Feodor credibility of the govern-
Federenko of Miami to keep ment witnesses.
his U.S. citizenship.
Hebrew U. Site
U.S. District Court Judge
June 25-Aug 13.
Nursery & Kindergarten
Norman Roettger ruled in
of July Meeting
July 16-Aug 3
Grades 1-3
Ft. Lauderdale last July
of
Supporters
that the Immigration and
Grades 4-6
Naturalization Service had NEW YORK —The Third
failed to prove the former International Conference of
guard had committed any the Psychology Division of
Swimming
atrocities. the American Friends of the
Arts & Crafts
Federenko had "denied
Hebrew University of
Jerusalem will convene at
the testimony of six Is-
Outside Trips
the university's Givat Ram
raeli survivors of Treb-
Skill Development
linka who said they saw Canvus in Jerusalem, July
him torture and shoot '3 76:
One of the principal pre-
prisoners. The judge also
Head Counselor
Camp Director
senters at the conference
said that Federe,nko had
will be Dr. Robert Langs,
lived an exemplary life
For a free brochure or additional information contact:
professor of psychiatry at
while in the U.S.
The American Jewish- _ Mt. Sinai Hospital and
Congress and the • Anti- editor 'in-chief of the Inter-
21550 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, Mi. 48076
Defamation League of Bnai national Journal of
Phone: 354-4664
Brith filed a joint brief in. Psychoanalytic . Psycho-
the appeal, criticizing the therapy.
Laura Zolkower 353-6392
Al
.
.
THE BETH SHALOM
SERIES '79
"BYE-BYE BRAVERMAN"
************
"THE FIXER"
$1.50 Admission
Court to Rule on Federenko
-
YESHIVAT AKIVA'S CAMP TOY
I SUMMER 1979
TWO SESSIONS
THREE DIVISIONS
Sports
,
Dennis Eisenberg,
Susan Kendler,
Akiva Hebrew Day School
Some of the volunteers
are enjoying their work so
much, they've asked to give
two days a week, she said.
In the beginning, Mrs.
Russakoff recruited senior
adults for the program, but
word-of-mouth quickly
swelled the corps' ranks.
"Friends would notice how
much livelier these people
had become and would ask-
what was going on," she
said, "and often I'd receive a
call from another volunteer
the very same day." -
For information on the
program, contact the
Jewish Vocational Service -
Community Workshop,
967-0500.
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