JFS Seeking
Friendly Visitors

Jewish Family Service in Southfield
and West Bloomfield is recruiting
volunteers for friendly visiting with
area older adults.
The Friendly Visitors provide sup-
port by visiting the home or nursing
home, discussing community and
world news/special events and engag-
ing in activities and holiday celebra-
tions. JFS Friendly Visitors, for two
hours a week, provide a vital link in
the JFS continuum of services to
older adults.
Other volunteer opportunities at
JFS include:
• Grocery Shoppers — shop for
clients once every week or two, as
needed
• Special Friends — give boys and
girls the opportunity for a one-to-
one relationship with an adult volun-
teer
• Hospice Volunteers — provide
consolation and assistance to termi-
nally ill clients and their families to
enhance quality of life throughout a
patient's remaining days
JFS also relies on a dedicated core
of professionals (attorneys, accoun-
tants, physicians, dentists, etc.) who
offer pro bono services to clients in
need. For information about volun-
teer activities at JFS, call Michelle
Greenstein, (248) 559-1500.

Elan Village
residents stay
part of the
community
as they volunteer
their help.

Beth Elders
Install Board

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
StaffWriter

T

hey are giving back to the community," says Janet Antin,
director of community services at Elan Village, speaking of
the residents who volunteer their time and donate their
change to a variety of local causes.
Marcia Mittelman, executive director of the assisted living commu-
nity in Southfield, says the facility is the base for many projects.
"Whoever needs help — that's who we help," she says.
When Barbara Charlip, the daughter of a resident, suggested a collab-
oration between the group and the Hadassah Doll Project, an ongoing
weekly program was established to create the dolls. Since October 1999,
residents have made 160 dolls, which are distributed to child patients in
eight area hospitals.
Volunteers also help when synagogues and non-profit organizations
need labeling, stuffing and sealing done for mass mailings.
Residents voted to donate their bingo winnings to Yad Ezra, Detroit's
kosher food pantry. Players now are filling up their third charity can.
The volunteer program has proved beneficial to both those receiving
and providing services. Mittelman says organizations get much-needed
assistance, while residents know they are playing a vital role in the com-
munity. They feel needed. As Antin says, "This is what gives them pur-
pose — a reason to get up in the morning."

❑

6/30
2000

42

Top: James Wilkus, Anne Roberts, Irene LabelL
Evelyn Berger and Sheldon Gutman stuff
envelopes to assist the Women's Orthodox League.

Center: Shirley Anstanding and Gertrude Broudy
make dolls.

Above: Gertrude Broudy drops her bingo winnings
into a Yad Ezra can.

Lois Freeman, president of the Beth
Elders of Terriple Beth El, has been
elected to serve a second term. She
and her fellow officers and board
were installed at a June 20 luncheon
at the temple.
The other newly installed officers
include Sybil Hoffman and Elaine
Brockman, vice presidents; Jeannette
MacWilliams, recording secretary;
Laura Wise, corresponding secretary;
and Hy Frank, treasurer.
Newly installed board members
are Fran Aaron, Ruth Fox, Steven
Fox, Rebecca Freedman, Edna
Greenwald, Doris Kushner, Hermina
Leib, James Marks, Phyllis Marks,
Frances Malin, Rose Parnos, Florence
Seedberg, Gordon Seedberg, Lee
Waldbott and Clement Weitzman.
The Beth Elders meet monthly for
a luncheon and program at the tem-
ple. For membership information,
call Lois Freeman, (248) 626-1005.