JUNE 30 • 2022 | 27

T

he Friendship Circle of 
Michigan nominated 
Vicki Brown, 57, of 
Farmington Hills as Volunteer 
of the Week for sharing her 
knowledge of arts and crafts 
with their Soul Studio Program. 
The nonprofit organization’s 
main goal is to provide every 

individual with special needs 
the support, friendship and 
inclusion they deserve. The 
Soul Studio Program is one of 
the programs they offer, which 
focuses on introducing art- 
making processes to adults with 
special needs. 
Since retiring a few years 

back, Brown knew she wanted 
to get involved in the communi-
ty by volunteering.
“I don’t know why I didn’t 
think of it sooner, but the 
Friendship Circle is the perfect 
fit. I am familiar with some of 
the people who started the orga-
nization, like Bassie Shemtov 
and the family. My daughters 
used to volunteer with the orga-
nization as well, and I’ve always 
enjoyed the atmosphere there,
” 
Brown said. 
While the program introduc-
es a variety of different sets of 
art skills like painting, ceramics, 
photography and more, Brown 
focuses on working with fabric 
and sewing. Brown says over the 
last several years, she’s learned 
how to sew and wanted to share 
her knowledge with others. 
“With my clients, we’ve made 
potholders, oven mitts and 
other artistic things with fabric 
and sewing,
” she said. “Everyone 
has really enjoyed it because it’s 

something that they can take 
home or give as a gift to a mom 
or another family member.
” 
Brown has been volunteering 
her time with the organiza-
tion weekly for about a year 
and plans to continue. Brown 
encourages anyone else who 
has love for art and is interested 
in volunteering to get involved 
with the Soul Studio Program.
“It really gives the volunteers 
as much as the clients. Every 
week, I get to go and see people 
who are smiling and happy to 
be with me, and we get to be 
creative together! It’s been really 
a good experience for me.
” 

If you are interested in learning more 

about the Friendship Circle and how you 

can volunteer, email Shayna at Shayna@

friendshipcircle.org or call her at (248) 

788-7878, ext. 207.

If you would like to nominate someone to 

be the next volunteer of the week, send 

a nomination with a short paragraph 

telling us why to socialmedia@

thejewishnews.com.

Meet Vicki Brown, who shares her 
creative skills with Soul Studio Program.

Sharing the 
Love of Fabric

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Vicki Brown 
with artist 
Caryn Martel 
showing off 
the floral print 
oven mitt she 
made.

OUR COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK 

Cooking with History
Remembering the Holocaust 
Through Family Recipes

Becca Gallick-Mitchell will 
demonstrate how to make 
her great-grandmother’s 
Kopytka (Polish Potato 
Dumplings) and Mushroom 
Gravy. More info at 
holocaustcenter.org

Tuesday, 
July 14 
at 7 pm edt

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