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sorted books for Bookstock and cared for dogs at the I Heart Dogs Rescue
and Animal Shelter in Warren. At Brilliant Detroit, a new Mitzvah Day site, volun-
teers painted and organized the reading rooms and common areas, organized
clothing for clients and prepared bags of school supplies for children. The
Mitzvah Day spirit was widely shared through numerous interviews on TV, radio
and in newspaper stories. Fox 2 joined Mitzvah Day volunteers at the Pope
Francis Center in Detroit for live coverage on Christmas morning.
Presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC and the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Mitzvah Day 2017 was co-chaired by Micki
Grossman, Milt Neuman and Illana Stern. •
JEFF AISEN
The frigid temps and 6 inches of snowfall on Dec. 25 didn’t hinder the more
than 900 Mitzvah Day volunteers from spreading good will at 51 project sites
throughout Metropolitan Detroit. Volunteers of all ages joined together for the
largest single day of volunteering in the Detroit Jewish community, replacing
Christian staff and volunteers so they could celebrate the holiday with their
families.
For the eighth year, volunteers from the Michigan Muslim Community Council
worked alongside Jewish volunteers at many Mitzvah Day sites.
Volunteers delivered toys to children, prepared and delivered meals, played
bingo with seniors, visited with veterans, served meals at homeless shelters,
places
Shawn Hunt of Clinton Township, Oliver and Taylor Beardsall of Novi, and David and Susie Kamen of White Lake pick up Meals on Wheels at
Christ Church to deliver to families.
Mary Goldman of Farmington Hills prepares a meal at the Pope
Francis Center.
Farhana and Saadia Ahment and Henry Stern, all of West Bloomfield,
organize the library at Brilliant Detroit.
Andy and Ethan Bocknek paint the hallways of Brilliant Detroit.
Adin and Erin Weiner of Huntington Woods and Mitzvah Day Co-Chair
Milt Neuman of Oak Park prepare meals at Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
Fox 2 reporter Robin Murdock interviews Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC
Executive Director David Kurzmann during live Mitzvah Day coverage.
26
January 11 • 2018
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Sam, Gwendolyn and Ellie Weiss of Huntington Woods deliver gifts from Jimmy’s Kids to Josue and Yeraldin Valancia
of Detroit.