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This Week

Celebrating Success

Kosher food bank honors the Meer family, hard-working
volunteers and board members at building dedication.

Clockwise from top:

Aharon and Reuven Meer and Rabbi Dov Loketch watch as Edward Meer
affixes the mezuzah to Yad Ezra's new home.

Yad Ezra co-director Elaine Ryke presents the Diane and Emery Klein Volunteer Recognition Award
to Erwin Robinson of Farmington Hills.

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Event co-chair June Stillman of West Bloomfield toasts volunteers, donors and others who have
contributed to Yad Ezra as co-director Lea Luger, center, and Rabbi Loketch, behind her, look on.

SHARON LUCKERMAN

Staff Writer

S

urrounded by 200 guests and
volunteers at the building
dedication of Yad Ezra's new
kosher food bank June 30,
Rabbi Dov Loketch of Agudas Yisroel-
Mogen Abraham said, "The day does
feel like a festival!"
After blessing the mezuzah Edward
Meer of Bloomfield Hills had affixed
to the doorpost, the rabbi shared a
selection from the Talmud in honor of
the Meer family. "Buildings like this
are built by the righteous," he said.
Others at the dedication included
his wife, Gloria; sons Aharon, Reuven
and Brian Meer and their wives; and
several grandchildren.
It was the Meer family's $500,000
gift — along with the daily work of
125 volunteers, board members and
five staff members — that assisted the
move and continues to help Yad Ezra
feed needy Jews in our community.
Entering its 12th year, Yad Ezra is
still the only kosher food pantry in
Michigan. More than 2,500 individu-
als are fed each month and 750,000
pounds of food are distributed every
year, said Andrew Zack of Huntington
Woods, president of the board.
Zack thanked the families and
donors who contributed to the $1.25
million capital campaign. The Kresge
Foundation gave a $175,000 match-
ing grant.
Zack also acknowledged Paul Finkel
of West Bloomfield and his business
partner Jaimey Roth of Birmingham,
the general contractors who renovated
Yad Ezra's new home in Berkley.
"This day exemplifies the perfect
partnership between the donors and
the volunteers that enables our organi-
zation to serve those in need," said Lea
Luger, Yad Ezra co-director with
Elaine Ryke. "The generosity of the
community enables us to put food on _
everyone's table who's in need."
Last February, Yad Ezra moved from
its old location on Harding Street off
11 Mile Road in Oak Park to the
roomier, renovated building at 2850
W. 11 Mile in Berkley. The new facili:

