To Life!
TowN
Sta ff photos by Ang ie Ba an
AROUND
Jeff and Lauren
Katz of Oak Park
o.
Ante Up!
Yad Ezra boosters game
to fight hunger.
T
Jerri and Neil Davis
of Beverly Hills
Audrey Klayman and Pauf
Finkil, both of West
Blownfield
20
March 9 • 2006
very well organized, effi-
here's usually no
cient place added Evan
time for fun and
Weiner of Franklin.
games at
The lagging local econo-
Michigan's only kosher
my and skyrocketing heat-
food pantry. Staff and vol-
ing costs have increased
unteers are constantly on
the
number of families
the move — sorting, pack-
who
need assistance from
aging and distributing
Ro
bin
Yad
Ezra.
The kosher food
food inside the Yad Ezra
Schw
a
rtz
pantry
distributes
gro-
warehouse in Berkley. But
Colu
mnist
ceries,
toiletries
and
other
on March 4, things were
essentials
to
many
elderly
different. The warehouse
residents and families with young
was transformed into a gaming hall
children.
for an event called "Ante Up For
"It's playing a very vital role,' said
Hunger." About 200 people played
State Rep. Andy Meisner, D-
Texas Hold'em poker and Bingo to
Ferndale."Yad Ezra can have such a
help raise close to .$15,000 for Yad
profound impact on families and
Ezra's lunch assistance program.
their ability to get by and navigate
"The lunch assistance program
tough times."
enables hundreds of children from
Spotted in the crowd helping ante
impoverished families to get free hot
up for hunger were: Yad Ezra co-
lunches from Jewish day schools
executive director Elaine Ryke of
that provide them',' said Lea Luger
Rochester Hills; Brad and Alison
of West Bloomfield, co-executive
Oleshansky, Jen and Todd
director of Yad Ezra.
Goodbinder, and Pamela and Erez
"I remember having a kid in my
Azaria,
all of Birmingham; Jody
class at school who never had a
Michaelson,
Aaron Pergament,
lunch',' said Nancy Kleinfeldt of
Michael
and
Harriet Morse,
Southfield.
Sheryl
and
Lyle
Wolberg, and
She chaired the event with Amy
Alison
and
Darren
Findling, all of
Schlussel of Huntington Woods.
Huntington Woods; Rebecca and
"I think this is just an amazing
Gil Feldman of Oak Park; Chaya
thing we can do for kids," Kleinfeldt
and Joey Selesny of Southfield; and
said.
Marion and Bert Stein, Janice and
Participants enjoyed music,
Doug Scharg, Dana and Rick
games and a strolling supper at the
fund-raiser. They also got the chance Lowenstein, and Dorothy Barak,
all of West Bloomfield. E
to learn more about the food pantry
which serves more than 1,150 local
Jewish families every month. Many
people saw the inside of Yad Ezra's
To make a referral or
warehouse for the first time.
volunteer: Call Yad Ezra at
"I've heard about Yad Ezra, but, I
(248) 548-3663 or visit its
didn't really know what it was',' said
Web site, www.yadezra.org .
Keith Lublin of West Bloomfield. "I
think it's a great mission, very
admirable,' he said.
"This is a fabulously successful,
Keith Lublin of
West Bloomfield
Ben Colley of
zel Park
and State Rep. Andy
Meisner, D-Ferndale
Pam and Erez Azaria
of Birmingham