metro REMEMBER THEIR SACRIFICE fr 25 Years Of Caring Yad Ezra tells its history through the experiences of its volunteers. Lea Luger Special to the Jewish News Y ad Ezra opened its doors on Feb. 5, 1990 — 25 years ago. Since that time, many volunteers have come to Yad Ezra to give of their time, talent and energy and donate the funds necessary to provide groceries to families in need. A few of our volunteers share thoughts about their experiences and the impact Yad Ezra has had on their lives. Lillian Kaufman YOM HAZIKARON ISRAEL'S NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY We Join Together to Remember Those Who Have Fallen So That Israel May Continue to Stand TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 I 2 IYAR 5775 7:00 P.M. MARION AND DAVID HANDLEMAN HALL & AUDITORIUM 6600 WEST MAPLE ROAD WEST BLOOMFIELD We kindly ask that you be seated by 6:45 p.m. in order to start promptly. There is no charge for this community-wide commemoration. For more information, contact Ayelet at (248) 502-2856 or kon@jfmd.org. fHeo For Good ^Jewish Federation • OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT Israel and Overseas ADL • AJC Detroit • Akiva Hebrew Day School • American Technion Society — Detroit Chapter Bnei Akiva • Detroit Jewish News • Frankel Jewish Academy • Friends of the IDF — Michigan Region Clara & Arthur Gaba • Hadassah • Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit • Jewish Community Relations Council JNF — Michigan Region • Michigan Board of Rabbis • ORT America - Michigan Region Johnny Pomodoro's • StandWithUs — Michigan 26 March 26 • 2015 JN Lillian Kaufman, 90, began volunteer- ing at Yad Ezra in 1990, right after the organization opened its doors in a small basement office in a building at 10 Mile and Greenfield. Lillian's earliest memories of Yad Ezra are of the clients standing in the hall outside the office waiting to meet with (the now late) Jeannette Eizelman, Yad Ezra's executive director, to get their groceries. Lillian immedi- ately became a regular Lillian Tuesday evening Kaufman volunteer for the next 20-plus years. As her children and grand- children recall, Tuesdays belonged to Yad Ezra. Lillian loved the one-on-one aspect of her volunteer work — being able to shmooze with clients, share a story or recipe, hear how grateful the families were to be receiving the assistance and feeling good about her efforts to help. One of Lillian's fondest memories is bringing her grandchildren, Jodie, Emily and Daniel, to Yad Ezra to volunteer at the warehouse for the annual Passover distribution. She knew the kids would enjoy packing and distributing the spe- cially prepared food items so all families could celebrate a seder. Daniel was so touched he began col- lecting toys for his grandmother to take to Yad Ezra for the children. For about a decade, the Passover distribution at Yad Ezra became an annual activity for Lillian and her grandchildren, something that continues to leave a huge impression. Last December, Lillian celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends. The family decided to mark this mile- stone by including Yad Ezra in the cel- ebration. A stunned but pleased Lillian never realized the impression her com- mitment to Yad Ezra had on her children and grandchildren. PI Seymore Eizelman "Without Rabbi [Irving] Schnipper, there wouldn't be a Yad Ezra" was the first thing Seymore said to me when I asked about Yad Ezra's beginnings. Through Schnipper's efforts, funds were raised and volunteers were cor- ralled to help organize and distribute non-perishable groceries. He would bring in dona- tions from his members, friends and colleagues. Seymore, a pharmacist, became Yad Ezra's first (unpaid) warehouse manag- Jeanette and er, spending many Seymore Eizelman evenings going over food menus, prices and budgets with Jeannette, as they worked hard to ensure that families received healthy food items. Before Yad Ezra opened, Jim Macy, a founder and then-executive director of the Food Bank of Oakland County, thought there were perhaps 100 Jewish families in need of assistance because that's about how many bypassed the canned ham and other non-kosher items. How sur- prised he, Ellie Kaplan, Mickey Eizelman, Howard Zoller and Gary Dembs were when 250 families came that first month. Additional (free) groceries for Yad Ezra's client families came from the Food Bank of Oakland County, Gleaners Community Food Bank and Forgotten Harvest. Greenfield Noodle and Kramer Foods began selling and donating food items to Yad Ezra for distribution. At the same time, the number of families in need continued to grow. Sylvia Abramowitz became Yad Ezra's assistant director, responsible for client intake. As word spread, more families and business- es stepped forward to lend a hand, write a check and/or provide warehouse knowl- edge, equipment, refrigeration, office fur- niture and other needed resources. Seymore, who continues to volunteer at Yad Ezra, is amazed at how generously the community has partnered with Yad Ezra. The Kleinfeldts Nancy Kleinfeldt became involved with Yad Ezra while working full time for Ford Motor Company. She joined the board in 2004, and immediately co- chaired Yad Ezra's first spring event. She was thrilled to attend meetings that were positive, inspiring and left her feel- ing she was making a difference.