18 | APRIL 23 • 2020 

C

ollectively, we are a 
powerful force when 
we work together for 
those most vulnerable and 
frail,
” said Leslie Katz, director 
of FRIENDS of JSL, who is 
looking for volunteers to help 
Jewish Senior Life residents 
left alone in their apartments 
because of the COVID-19 
crisis.
Volunteers can choose from 
a myriad of opportunities to 
help. Many residents don’
t have 
the ability to shop for them-
selves. JSL is looking for people 
to pick up groceries curbside 
at the store and deliver them to 
JSL as well as volunteers to go 
into the stores and shop for the 
residents. “We’
ve arranged with 
some stores to allow our vol-
unteers to come during special 
hours,
” Katz said.
JSL also needs people to 
make masks for residents, care-
givers and front-line staff to 
keep everybody safe. 
“
As a community on the 
front lines, it is our responsibil-
ity to nourish and support JSL 

residents while protecting our-
selves with masks and gloves,
” 
Katz said. 
One woman answered that 
call. Susan Tauber, 71, of West 
Bloomfield usually spends sev-
eral days a week volunteering 
at local hospitals and organi-
zations, including JSL, with 
her therapy dogs “Pearl the 
Pug” and “Charlie the Chug.
” 
Because of the stay-at-home 
order, she’
s now volunteering at 
home — by sewing.
Tauber made 100 masks 
for JSL on her trusty 1967 
Kenmore sewing machine. “I 
beg and borrow elastic, and 
people have donated fabric,
” 
she said. “Because I can’
t go 
out, this is my way of helping 
the community during these 
horrible times.
”
The Shir Tikvah member is 
hoping to make more masks 
for JSL. “They need more than 
1,000,
” she said.
JSL is also accepting mone-
tary donations, and donations 
of toilet paper, snacks and gifts 
for its more than 800 residents 
— anything that might bring 
smiles to their faces.
“The majority of our resi-
dents are doing well, and we 
have fabulous staff doing all 
they can to stay optimistic and 
positive,
” Katz said. “
At one of 
our residences, someone gets 
on the speaker system to tell a 

daily joke. At others, staff send 
up daily activity books and 
check in to say hello — any-
thing to keep their spirits up.
”
The staff could use the com-
munity’
s help. “We’
re looking 
for people to come and visit at 
the windows to offer a wave 
and a smile,
” Katz said. JSL is 
also looking for people to vol-
unteer as “sunshine callers” to 
offer a word of encouragement 
to residents.
Katz is working with a group 
of teens who are acting as pen 
pals. They email their letters 
to Katz who distributes them 
to residents. “We’
re looking for 
more pen pals,
” she said. “
Also, 
with so many children being 
homeschooled right now and 
drawing pictures, we hope they 
can share those pictures with 
our residents.
”
Katz asks parents to scan 
their children’
s artwork and 
email it to her. She will print 
out the pictures and give them 
to residents to brighten up 
their homes. 
Katz cites the adage: 
“
Anyone who saves a life is as 
if he saved an entire world.
” 
You can help “save the life” of a 
lonely resident by volunteering 
your time and talents. Contact 
Katz at lkatz@jslmi.org to see 
how you can make a differ-
ence. For more information, 
visit jslmi.org. 

JSL Looking for
 Army of Volunteers

From making 
masks to shopping 
to pen pals,we can 
all do something.

JACKIE HEADAPOHL 
ASSOCIATE EDITOR

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Volunteers have 
been sewing masks for residents and staff. 
Touching through glass, Nancy Zucker brings 
greetings to Fleischman residents from their loved 
ones via FaceTime. Fleischman residents enjoyed 
a beautiful Passover seder over the loudspeaker 
while social distancing in their doorways. ORT 
Associate Director and JSL volunteer Caryn Emmer 
and numerous others have become “sunshine 
callers,” making calls to residents who may need 
to hear a friendly voice.

Jews in the D

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JSL

