INSIDE:
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Ready For Winter
JFS' Fall Fix Up helps elderly and needy prepare for the cold.
STORY: BETH GOLDBERG GANEZER
PHOTOS: ANGIE BAAN
D
4TN
11/14
2003
42
avid Schnurman of Farmington
Hills secured plastic sheeting with a
hairdryer as he winterized windows
at a Oak Park home Nov 1.
Schnurman was joined by nearly 200 vol-
unteers at Jewish Family Service's seventh
annual Fall Fix Up — a volunteer project to
help 40 older adults and others in need pre-
pare their homes for winter," said Michelle
Malamis, JFS program director of volunteer
services. _
Volunteers also raked leaves and cleaned
basements.
Among the first workers to arrive at the
Fall Fix Up headquarters, located at Yeshivas
Darchei Torah in Southfield, were high
schoolers. They were followed by synagogue
groups, families with children and individu-
als.
"By doing this, we are reaching out to the
community and helping people less able to
do work," said Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit sophomore Ryan
Landau of West Bloomfield.
"This is my fourth year. It's a chance to
interact with people and make a difference
in their lives," said JAMD senior Ian
Robinson.
Mark Landau, JFS executive committee
member and chairman of the volunteer
services committee, expressed how proud he
was to see so many students participate this
year.
Teens came from JAMD and North
Farmington, Rochester, Stony Creek and
West Bloomfield high schools. Others vol-
unteered through Congregations Beth Ahm
and Beth Shalom, Cub Scout Pack 1049,
JARC, Jewish Parents Institute, Temple
Beth El youth group and Yeshivas Darchei
Torah.
For Jack Cherney of West Bloomfield, a
volunteer and Fall Fix Up committee mem-
ber, the event was a family affair with son
Andrew and daughter Hillary.
Another enthusiastic participant, 5-year-
old Alyssa Hirsch, said, "I want to eat
cookies and help people."
Alyssa was joined by her dad, Jon
Hirsch of Huntington Woods, friends
Miriam and Sammy and their dad,
David Saperstein of Huntington
Woods.
Although staples of the day included
rakes, tarps and window winterizing
kits, some volunteers brought profes-
sional equipment. Marc Mouradian of
-Royal Oak carted a leaf blower, while
Jeff Lazar of 1-800-GOT-JUNK used
his truck to haul away discarded TVs
and an air conditioner.
Rochester Hills Stony Creek High
School student and Key Club member
Nicole Sangregorio, said, "This is
something fun to do. We can help out
with our friends."
Friends Simrita Singh and Cache
Giacolone of West Bloomfield High __
School seconded her thoughts.
"It is wonderful that it rained and all of
the volunteers came anyway," said
Malamis. "They have great spirit."
She credits Fall Fix Up sponsors, com-
mittee members and volunteers with
making the event a success. She cites
local donors 3M, Beaumont
Hospital, Broiler Inc., Providence
Hospital and Yeshivas Darchei
Torah. Committee members
included co-chairs Steven
Dunn of Bloomfied
Township and Steve
Levett of Farmington
Hills; Cherney,
David Ganezer of
Franklin;
Schnurman,
Nathan
Shiovitz of
West Bloomfield;
Judy Stern of
Pontiac; and Micki
Grossman, Alissa Koloff
and Karen Safran, all of
Farmington Hills. El
Community
Calendar
49
Mazel
Toy!
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