Working Together
Federation project is helping non-Jewish
community to have a happier holiday.
SHELLI DORFMAN
Staff Writer
T
he dilemma: How could local
Jews offer their annual assis-
chaired for the second year by Barbra
Tunick and Mark Chessler. Tunick,
who has been involved on various lev-
els for the past six years, says some of
the dozens of agencies that usually
receive volunteer help do not need
food and toys, so the list of recipients
was reduced this year to those who do.
Tunick, administrator of
Fleischman Residence in West
Bloomfield, says in past years, volun-
teers have helped out at the "many
non-profit agencies that are extremely
short-staffed on the 25th." Agencies
Pho to by [(lista Husa
tance to the non-Jewish corn-
munity on Christmas Day
when this year Dec. 25 falls on Shabbat?
The hundreds who participate each
year through the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit's Volunteer
Extravaganza discovered they could
help in a different way.
Some of the agencies that typically
have Jewish volunteers take over
work schedules for those who cele-
brate Christmas will instead receive
donations of food and toys.
Each agency was informed last
year that observance of Shabbat
would change things this year.
Together, the agencies and volun-
teers came up with the food and
toy drive. It's a way for the Jewish
community to continue the tradi-
tion of pulling together to assist
these agencies.
Alaine Waldshan, staff associate
of Federation's Community
Sora Unger, 4, places a toy in the donation
Outreach and Education
bin at Yeshivat Akiva.
Department, says eight donation
sites have been set up throughout
run primarily by volunteers, like food
the Jewish community in hopes of
banks or meal delivery services, count
acquiring non-perishable food items
on this annual assistance.
and new, unused toys.
The volunteer day will be reinstated
The 16 local food banks, domestic
next year, but may be done in con-
violence centers, senior facilities and fam-
junction with another food and toy
ily service agencies to receive the dona-
drive, Tunick says.
tions include Boys & Girls Republic in
"People have been very generous
Farmington Hills, Women's Justice
with
donations," she says, as have those
Center in Detroit, Orchards Children's
who
offered
to house drop-off bins."
Services in Southfield and Children's
"The
generosity
of Jewish agencies
Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.
and Jim Hiller of Hiller's Markets,
In addition, Waldshan says it was
who agreed to use four of his stores in
decided that some Jewish organiza-
very different areas," allows the com-
tions should benefit from the dona-
munity to conveniently make dona-
tions. Yad Ezra, the Oak Park-based
tions, she says.
kosher food pantry, will receive both
Drop-off containers are available at
food and toys. The Jewish
Yeshivat
Akiva in Southfield, both the
Community Center in Oak Park is in
Kahn
Building
of the West Bloomfield
need of toys for its baby-sitting room.
JCC
and
the
JPM
Building of the Oak
Elan Village, an assisted-living corn-
Park JCC, the Max M. Fisher Federation
munity in Southfield, requested games
Building in Bloomfield Township and
and cards.
Hiller's stores in Walled Lake, Southfield,
Volunteer Extravaganza is being
Northville and West Bloomfield.
Shelli Doifinan can be reached at
Waldshan was unsure about the
(248) 354-6060, ext. 246, or by e-mail,
volume of donations this first year.
Volunteers report some bins are not as
sdotfinan@theiewishnews.com
Mon .- Fri. 10 afft -S pm; Saturday 10 am 6 pm; SUNDAY 114
12/17
1999
18
37730 Vali I e, Ster He' ts,