teers. It's truly ecumenical and supported
by the entire range of members in the
community from secular to the most
religious."
Some of the earliest participants were
some of the youngest — students at
Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
Detroit in Farmington Hills and
Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield.
"It's something young people can
understand," Luger says. Its a simple
mission.''
Seven-year old
. Jenny Crakes of
Lansing got the mes-
sage after one visit
with her grandmoth-
er, Dotty Smith of
West Bloomfield,
who volunteers at Yad
Ezra. She later wrote
her grandmother:
"... with this letter,
Jenny Crakes,
I send three one dol-
7, made her
lar bills. I want to
own cash
help buy more food
contribution
for the poor Jewish
to Yad Ezra.
people that come to
Yad Ezra."
In the past year,
donations from $5 to $500,000 have
gone to Yad Ezra's most ambitious capi-
tal campaign. Our budget for acquisi-
tion and renovation for the new ware-
house is $1.25 million," says board pres-
ident Zack.
Yad Ezra received a $500,000 gift
from the Meer family and a $175,000
challenge grant from the Kresge
Foundation. But it will only receive the
Kresge grant if it raises $1,075,000 by
June 30. In less than a year, it has
received cash and pledges for $865,000,
which includes the Meer gift. It has
$210,000 to go.
"We harbor no illusions," Zack says.
"These are difficult times. But we've
always been sustained by the Jewish
community ... I'm sure they'll come
through. "111
To benefit Yad Ezra's capital cam-
paign, Matt Prentice will host a
strolling dinner 5-8 p.m.,
Sunday, April 7, at the opening
of his kosher vegetarian restau-
rant, Milk & Honey of West
Bloomfield, at the West
Bloomfield Jewish Community
Center. $100 per adult. Call Lea
Luger at (248) 548-3663.
32940 Middlebelt Road • Farmington Hills
(At 14 Mile Rd. in the Broadway Plaza)
JEWELERS 4113
(248) 855-1730 • www.greis.com
;
WM
3/1
2002
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