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JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR

Special to The Jewish News

Y of

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D

uring this time of the year,
it's impossible to escape
reminders of thankfulness.
,
As Thanksgiving comes
and goes,
oes 3 friends and families share
meals and laughter. As the first snow
falls, who hasn't been at least a little
bit grateful for the warm, if not styl-
ish, coat in the closet of the toasty, if
not gorgeous, home?
But for others who don't have
friends and families to rely upon, who
don't have meals to share or warm
coats or covers in which to wrap

themselves, the holiday season ushers
in a sense of dread.
"There are always extra needs at
this time of the year," says Sister
Cecilia Marie Zondl of the Coalition
On Temporary Shelter (COTS) in
Detroit. "People need a little bit more
help during the winter."
The season of giving serves as a
reminder that the needs of the poor
know no season. While the feeling that
comes with giving warms the heart in
the cold months, spring, summer and
fall also are good times to make a
donation or volunteer to help.
"We'll serve 1,000 meals on
Thanksa b ivinc, b and have 1,500 volun-
teers," says Jerry Brisson, development
director of the Capuchin Soup
Kitchen. If that generosity could pour
over into the other days of the year,
many agencies would be better off.
"We try to find as many places for
people to serve food as we can, but
the reality is that [Christmas Day] is
not when the majority of help is
needed," explains Joanie Berger of the
Community Outreach Department at
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit.
Family opportunities abound dur-
ing the holiday season. "It's a really
easy time for people to volunteer with

Left: Steve and Howard Tapper, of
Tapper's Diamonds and Fine Jewelry,
held their sixth annual coat drive this
season with coats. Tapper's distributed
coats to the Pontiac Lighthouse and
Orchards Children's Services.

Bottom: Eve?), Saturday Gleaners
Community Food Bank is busy with
volunteers packaging food for the
homeless.

The holiday season
and the other days of the year
provides opportunities galore
for volunteers and givers.

C--