A
k
N
Staff photos by Angie Baan
Todd Franklin and
Michael Morse,
both of Huntington
Woods
Nancy Kleinfeldt and Amy Schlussel, both of Huntington Woods
s
Yad Ezra fundraiser helps fight hunger.
Harriet Morse,
Alyson Findling
and Jo Segal, all of
Huntington Woods
T
he sorting, packing and distributing that usually go on inside Michigan's only
kosher food pantry gave way to a night of wheeling, dealing and even bluffing.
More than 130 people gathered at the Yad Ezra warehouse in Berkley for "Ante
Up For Hunger," a fundraiser featuring Texas Hold'em Poker, Bingo, a strolling dinner,
and live and silent auctions.
The Feb. 3 event raised more than $10,000 to help feed local Jewish families. It was
also a big night for Brian Jacobs of Southfield, the night's poker champion, who won a
romantic getaway at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham and other prizes.
"I didn't really have good cards, I bluffed:' Jacobs confided.
He wasn't bluffing, though, when he shared his impressions
of the food pantry, which serves 1,100 Jewish families in Metro
Detroit every month. "It was my first time at the warehouse; it's
incredible. I was very impressed with the setup and how sub-
stantial it is:' Jacobs said.
Yad Ezra's clients include many elderly residents and families
with young children. Once a month they receive groceries, items
for holiday celebrations, toiletries and other essentials. The event
brought people right to the source, where food distribution takes
place, and gave them the chance to learn more about the opera-
tion.
"Our mission is to feed Jewish people who would otherwise go
hungry," said Yad Ezra vice president and event co-chair Nancy
Kleinfeldt of Huntington Woods. "The number of vulnerable families in our commu-
nity continues to increase due to our weakening local economy"
Also spotted in the crowd were: Event co-chair Amy Schlussel of Huntington
Woods; Lisa and Milton Feldberg, Allison and Brad Oleshansky and Rachel
and Allen Wolff, all of Birmingham; Andrea and David Segal, Aimee and
Richard Simtob and Brad "Bubba" Urdan, all of West Bloomfield; Julie and Jeff
Hoskow, Andrea and Mark Wolfe, Harriet and Michael Morse, Rachel and
Josh Opperer, Jennifer and Lowell Friedman and Jodi and Jeff Michaelson, all
of Huntington Woods; and Beth and Avi Adler, Sidney Katz and Rabbi Jonathan
Berkun, all of Southfield.
Jen and Lowell
Friedman of
Huntington Woods
and Brad "Bubba"
Urdan of West
Bloomfield
Right: Allan
Shefton of Beverly
Hills
Far right: Rondan
Shink of West
Bloomfield
34
March 8 • 2007
m uff!
441 4 1011ity
asat$ 0 1111
It
;
"gr 40.
,
10 044!0•0*
WO
To make a referral or volunteer: Call Yad Ezra (248) 548-3663
or visit their Web site: www.yadezra.org .