Supplement to The Jewish News Scenes at the Petosky Building The move from Edmund St. to Petosky — 193 7 The Petosky Building — center above Borman Hall — left Prentis Manor — right Ira Sonneblick with a resident Auxiliary Members Open Their Hearts to Help When the Jewish Old Folks Home was established, its paid staff consisted of a cook, a housekeeper and a bookkeeper. Even though there were only 11 residents, they needed more help than the three full-time staff members could give. To meet these needs, a Women's Auxiliary was formed. The Auxiliary has been an integral part of the Home ever since. The Auxiliary members donated clothing and household goods to the Home and its residents, but they also became involved in social activities, hosting afternoon teas for the residents, and taking them on trips to Belle Isle and other places of interest. Their efforts were described in the society pages of the Detroit Jewish Chronicle in the 1920s. The Auxiliary proved to be as successful at increasing its membership as it was at providing financial support. An ambitious membership drive was undertaken in the 1930s, with the slogan, "Every Jewish woman a member of the Auxiliary." More than 1,800 new members joined, 600 of them in one day! Though personal service to residents had always been an important part of the Auxiliary's program, the organization's emphasis shifted to para-professional work during World War II. A shortage of nurses was making things difficult at the Home. Auxiliary members filled in by serving as nurses' aides. By the 1950s, the Auxiliary had more than 100 active volunteers working regularly in the craftshop or gift shop, running Bingo games, helping with holiday celebrations or performing other services for the residents. Volunteers also help organize and coordinate trips for residents, a program which has become extremely popular. The volunteers can be anyone. They can be teenagers looking for a meaningful way to spend their free time. They can be residents themselves, eager to share knowledge or skills with others. Often, volunteers start working at the Home when a relative goes there to live. Last year, volunteers gave 18,000 hours of their time to work with the home's residents and day care participants, enriching their lives in countless ways. Through dues, tribute cards and proceeds from the Gift Shop and Nosh Nook — a snack bar for residents and visitors — the Auxiliary is able to provide birthday gifts for residents, holiday flowers and new equipment and to support a resident library and various programming events. Without the Auxiliary and its volunteers, the Jewish Home for Aged could not have succeeded. Their support has been, and continues to be, immeasurable. "We're happy to have family members volunteer, because then they get to see how the Home functions, and they can meet the staff and get to know them," says Jean Epstein, director of social work at the Home. "And many of these people stay on as volunteers long after their relative has died." The list of services rendered by volunteers is long. They coordinate current events discussions, musical groups, exercise and art classes. They serve as friendly visitors to residents, especially those who have no family in town. They assist with religious activities. Volunteer Jean Arkin, Volunteer Coordinator Rowena Howard, and Auxiliary President Geraldine Margolis assist residents in the Gift Shop. 3