28 | MARCH 25 • 2021

ilies with children received weekly kosher
KiwiKids boxes, with a weekend’s worth
of breakfast and lunch foods. Those who
didn’t want a particular food item left it at
the synagogue; others came in the next day
to take what they wanted.
For the Stevenson families, congregants
placed a large metal office cabinet outside
the school. Donors leave food in the cabi-
net, and those who need food can take it.
When word got out, other community
organizations started bringing donations.
While the program is promoted primar-
ily within the school community, anyone
who needs food is welcome to take items.
The pantry is open 24 hours a day and is
constantly being emptied and replenished.

HOLIDAY HELPING
As the December holidays approached, the
congregation took their generosity a step
further.
The school’s principal, Tonya Hickman,
identified 15 families who were strug-
gling financially and unable to provide

Christmas gifts for their children. She gave
the synagogue a wish list encompassing
needs from computers and bikes to under-
wear, said the congregation’s spiritual lead-
er, Rabbi Yechiel Morris.
“It was really eye-opening,” he said. “This
is a nice neighborhood; we don’t normally
think people here may be in need.”
Some congregants went shopping for
gifts; others contributed cash. School fam-
ilies that could, including several alumni,
chipped in. The synagogue raised enough
to not only provide everything the children
requested but also to add gift cards to the
packages. A nearby Trader Joe’s donated a
gingerbread house kit for every family.
Before Christmas, synagogue members
loaded the decorated gift packages into
family members’ cars in front of the school.
“Those families were truly grateful for
the outpouring of love and the smiles that
were placed on their children’s faces on
Christmas morning,” Hickman said.
After the successful food and gift
distribution efforts, some congregants

wanted to do even more. Ten synagogue
members, from college students to retir-
ees, now serve as tutors for Stevenson
students.
“They Zoom into classes, and the
teacher sets them up in private sessions
to work on reading and math skills,” said
Gruber.
Principal Hickman praised Andrea
Gruber, saying she is the hero in
this story. “She is truly committed to
Stevenson and this community,” she said.
Hickman says the school community
feels blessed and fortunate to have part-
nered with the synagogue.
Gruber and Morris say Young Israel of
Southfield is “the Little Shul that Could.”
Almost all of the synagogue families
participate in the community outreach
efforts. “It’s a way for our community to
reach out to others, a way to connect. It’s
people taking care of each other, realizing
we’re all in this together,” said Morris.
The school and the shul have named the
overall effort “Neighbor to Neighbor.”

continued from page 26

CLOCKWISE: YIS volunteers
Shoshana Gruber, Andrea
Gruber, Marc Gruber and
Sarah Voss. A Stevenson
Elementary student receives
a Christmas package.
Tovah Morris, 12, works at
the food pantry.