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7

L 1

Hr SCENE

Shoes
And
Sweets

Shoppers aid women
transitioning to workforce.

Robin Schwartz
Special to the Jewish News

M

argie Yaker of
Huntington Woods
picked up a pair of
wine-colored platform shoes
and just couldn't put them down.
Her friend Nancy Glen, also of
Huntington Woods, fell in love
with some brown suede pumps.
The two women were among
a group of about 30 savvy shop-
pers in shoe heaven at Sole
Sisters shoe store in Royal Oak.
The store held a private Shoes
and Chocolate party on Sept. 28,
sponsored by Z'havah, the young
women's group of Congregation
Beth Shalom in Oak Park. A por-
tion of the evening's sales went to
Dress for Success, a program that
helps women in transition to the
workforce.
"I think our generation is very
social minded, so we're pair-
ing social consciousness and
fun," said Fran Newman of
Huntington Woods.
She organized the party along
with Jodie Krasnick, also of
Huntington Woods. Partygoers
browsed around the store,
mingled and enjoyed all kinds of
chocolate treats. Many of the par-
ticipants brought shoes, suits and
accessories to donate to Dress for
Success. The national nonprofit
group helps low-income women
get jobs and become more self-
sufficient. The Michigan chapter
is based in Ypsilanti.

38

October 19 • 2006

"What you're doing will benefit
many women who are entering
the workforce," said Cathleen
Taylor, a representative of Dress
for Success Michigan.
"Some of the women have
jobs; but they are still in need of
clothing, some are coming out of
shelters and jails. We also work
with women in colleges who are
just trying to improve their qual-
ity of life."
The party was a guilt-free way
to enjoy a guilty pleasure. A per-
centage of each purchase went
to Dress for Success; as an added
bonus, the store gave everyone a
10-percent discount.
"I like comfortable shoes:' said
Elaine Webber of Huntington
Woods. "I love looking at all of
the funky styles, but I can't wear
them."
"They've got great shoes, boots
and belts," added Gail Elkus
of Huntington Woods, one of
four vice-presidents at Beth
Shalom. "It's a women's night
out, and it's a lot of fun." Also
spotted in the shoe-shopping
crowd were: Diane Baskin
of Oak Park; Lynn Lipman
of West Bloomfield, and Amy
Franklin, Susie Wolpe,
Rachel Katz, Lisa Yufit, Lori
Hessenthaler, Beverly Price,
Shari Zemmol, Michelle
Geller and Elaine Webber, all
of Huntington Woods.

JN

Top to bottom:

Lori Hessenthaler of
Huntington Woods

Nancy Glen, Amy
Franklin and Rachel

Katz, all of Huntington
Woods

Lisa Yufit of Huntington
Woods, Elaine Webber of

Huntington Woods, and
Debbie Langer of Oak
Park

Jodie Krasnick and
Fran Newman, both of
Huntington Woods