SIDEWALK SALE

•- Project Sherut Expands
Non-Jewish Outreach

LESLEY PEARL

Jewish News Intern

D

eborah Franklin has
found her fairy god-
mother — not in a
story, but in the Jewish
Community Council.
Four years ago, Ms.
Franklin began Project Cap-
ture a Rainbow, tutoring in-
ner-city children in English.
This spring, Ms. Franklin
and her project moved into
the Doty Multi-Service
Center, formerly Doty
Elementary School at Third
and Calvert, with the
expanded purpose of helping
these children empower
themselves through edu-
cation, leadership, conflict
mediation, cultural enrich-
ment and a free lunch pro-
gram.
"I wasn't just a tutor," Ms.
Franklin said. "I was play-
ing mini social worker. I
realized I couldn't just teach
them (the kids) reading
without teaching them
about life and culture."
Until Ms. Franklin met
Miriam Imerman, these
were seemingly impossible
goals for the grass-roots
organization funded solely
by Ms. Franklin and the few
other volunteers involved.
Ms. Imerman, domestic
concerns director for the
Jewish Community Council,
was looking for non-profit
organizations, like Project
Capture a Rainbow, to mat-
ch with individuals donating
items and services. This
effort, called Project Sherut,
began in January 1990.
Ms. Imerman advertised
the program in The Jewish
News. Ms. Franklin read the
ad and contacted Jewish
Community Council.
Ms. Franklin was put in
touch with a man donating
bookcases. When she arrived
to pick up the donation, the
donor also offered Ms.
Franklin tables, cabinets, a
conference table with chairs,
a refrigerator and a coffee
machine.
"I had to get a moving van
to get it all out," Ms.
Franklin said.
Those items now furnish
the Doty Multi-Service
Center in Detroit and sym-
bolize the beginning of a re-
lationship between Project
Capture a Rainbow and Jew-
ish Community Council.
Several weeks ago, Ms.
Franklin read about a group
in Philadelphia called
"Shooting Back.' I' one of
the worst areas of the city, a

man was giving children 35-
millimeter cameras and
teaching them to shoot pic-
tures rather than guns.
A few days later, Ms.
Franklin received a call
from Ms. Imerman offering
photography and darkroom
equipment. The donor also
offered to teach photography
at the center.
"Most of these kids have
never walked the halls of a
museum, let alone know how
to spell it," Ms. Franklin
said. "The donors and Jew-
ish Community Council are
helping us change that."
When Ms. Franklin brings
new items to the center, she
makes certain to let the
children know where the
gifts came from.
"They (Jewish Community
Council) have given us more
than any black organiza-
tions," Ms. Franklin said.
"It's important the kids
know these things are com-
ing from Jewish people. I
want them to understand
the connection between diff-
erent races and ethnic
groups.
"So much of what people
throw away is what other
people can use," Ms. Imer-
man said. "We're a
disposable society. But just
like there is someone for
everyone, there is someone
for everything."
Those someones are reci-
pients including, in addition
to Project Capture a Rain-
bow, the Coalition on - Tem-
porary Shelter (COTS), the
Michigan Cancer Founda-
tion, the Gateway Counsel-
ing Center, the American
Red Cross and Health on
Wheels; and those some-
things they have received
are medical supplies, books,
clothing, shoes, a VCR
stand, a sewing machine, a
21/2-ton furnace and an 8,000
BTU central air condition-
ing system.
Project Sherut is also
working with the Ira Kauf-
man Chapel in its Aftercare
Services, placing donations
from estates to organizations
in need. While aiding the
family through the difficult
time after death, the Ira
Kaufman Chapel will place
household items, furniture
and clothing of the deceased
with needy organizations.
Thirty-six families have
taken advantage of the ser-
vice.
Anyone wishing to donate
useful items to Project
Sherut should call Miriam
Imerman at 962-1880. El

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