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41 | DECEMBER 12 • 2019
gift guide 2019
D
ecember is the month
for giving — especially
gifts and parties for
friends, family and co-work-
ers, but it is also traditionally
a special time to help those in
need. Many nonprofit agencies
welcome gifts of cash, needed
items and volunteer help at year’
s
end. Some conduct annual giving
campaigns with donor matches
to raise funds for special proj-
ects or general operations. The
following is a sampling of a few
Jewish agencies.
Many other worthy Jewish and
secular nonprofit organizations
and causes can be found online
at their websites. Most offer
donors a convenient way to give
online.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
Friendship Circle of Michigan
assists 3,000 individuals with
special needs and their families
by providing recreational, social,
educational and vocational pro-
gramming. Assistance is also
provided to individuals and fam-
ilies struggling with addiction.
Donated items sought include
laptops; assorted acrylic paints,
Blick or Liquitex; a foosball
table; assorted color, craft, water-
color or art papers; sensory
water table; high-quality artist
colored pencils, paintbrushes,
alcohol-based markers or multi-
colored Sharpie sets; bean bags;
overhead projector; weighted
blankets, pillows, other weighted
items; disco/dance floor pad,
MacBook Pro laptop; musical
instruments; hairdryers; gym
class scooters; sensory tools
(stress balls, weighted lap pads);
12 stackable studio chairs; paper
cutter; and a Saori loom (for
adults with disabilities). Contact:
Randall Marie Hutchinson at
(248) 788-7878 ext. 211 or
randall@friendshipcircle.org.
JARC (JARC.ORG)
JARC provides high-quality,
community-based residential
and support programs, serving
nearly 200 adults in its group
homes and various supported
independent living arrange-
ments.
Monetary contributions for
social opportunities include
date nights for couples; dinner
out for a group home; and a
Chanukah celebration for a few
of the homes to enjoy together.
Donations also can be used to
purchase a vehicle to provide
reliable and safe transportation
for a JARC home.
Donated items sought include
new sheets and towels; new dish-
es, silverware and cookware, and
new small kitchen appliances.
Contact: jennykabert@jarc.org or
call (248) 940-2617 or email .
Volunteer opportunities also
are available: Friend-to-Friend
volunteers work directly with the
individuals JARC serves, sharing
their time and friendship; event
volunteers provide hands-on help
at JARC events, such as monthly
Bingo; Judaic volunteers share
their love of Judaism with their
friends from JARC, perhaps by
gathering for a Shabbat dinner
or celebrating a holiday. Contact
Jessica at (248) 940-2607 or
jessicatierney@jarc.org.
JFS (JFSDETROIT.ORG)
Through more than 30 pro-
grams, JFS serves thousands of
individuals with mental health
and wellness needs, safety net
issues, and programs for senior
End the year by
giving to local
nonprofi
ts that
help others.
TOP LEFT: Friends and
family of individuals
served by JARC whoop
it up at a festive holiday
party at Adat Shalom
Synagogue. TOP RIGHT:
Chris, a Kadima mem-
ber, works in Kadima’
s
Hydroponics Garden,
which is operated by
Kadima’
s Zussman Activity
Center members. They
harvest dozens of heads
of lettuce every few
months that are then used
in cooking.
SHARI S. COHEN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Giving
– The
Best Gift
JARC
COURTESY OF KADIMA