OUR COMMUNITY

M

embers of Jewish
War Veterans Ladies
Auxiliary of Michigan,
Lt. Raymond Zussman Post 333,
was busy last week preparing
their “Blessings in
a Bag” care pack-
ages for drop-off
to Piquette Square
in Detroit, just in
time for Veterans
Day.
Piquette
Square is a 150-
unit apartment complex near
Detroit’s New Center area that
provides housing and care for
homeless veterans. Its mission is
to “create a welcoming environ-
ment that supports the veterans
in their self-determination and
growth by providing a full com-
plement of counseling, treatment
and community-reintegration
services.
”
Last week, the ladies gathered
at the home of auxiliary member
Diane Jacobs, daughter of Army
veteran Joe Goldring, of blessed
memory, and mom to her Air
Force veteran son Adam. Her
living room temporarily provides
the space for the assembly line
set-up needed to prepare the
“Blessings in a Bag.
”
Numerous health and beauty
aids (toothbrushes, toothpaste,
soap, shampoo), snacks, puzzles,
games and water bottles make
up just some of the inventory
prepared for distribution to the
veterans.
Diane’s garage warehouses
larger items like cleaning sup-
plies, mops, laundry detergent,
clothing, blankets and towels
that are also distributed along
with the “Blessings in a Bag.
”

“It’s all a small token of our
appreciation for our veterans
who are enduring difficult
times, hopefully helping them
get through a day more easily or
make their day a little brighter,
”
she says.
The Auxiliary relies on
Facebook and outreach to
friends to help replenish their
supplies. Local dentists have
generously donated dental care
items and, when necessary, the
Auxiliary will designate dollars
from their coffers, or their per-
sonal pocketbooks, to buy items
at the Dollar Tree. (See how to
donate below.)
The “Blessings in a Bag” deliv-
eries by the Ladies Auxiliary are
not just reserved for Veterans
Day. So far this year, Piquette

Square has been on the receiving
end of several other drop-offs
and, according to Diane, the
need will continue to be fulfilled
by the Auxiliary for the foresee-
able future.
While the majority of the
“Blessings in a Bag” are reserved
for Piquette Square, Auxiliary
members often have a supply
of bags readily on hand in their
cars in the event they see some-
one on the streets in need.
Besides their efforts on behalf
of Piquette Square, the Ladies
Auxiliary’s recent calendar of
events included marching along-
side the men of the JWV Dept.
of Michigan in Detroit’s annual
Veterans Day Parade this past
Sunday. In addition, their com-
mitment to the legacy of Jewish

War Veterans will be on dis-
play at this weekend’s Veterans
Shabbat services at Temple Israel
on Friday evening, Nov. 11, and
at Shaarey Zedek on Saturday
morning, Nov. 12.
Like their male counterparts
in the JWV Dept. of Michigan,
the Auxiliary is facing dwindling
membership, but what they lack
in numbers does not diminish
their commitment to make a dif-
ference. As their mission states:
“It is a labor of love — support-
ing veterans and their families in
time of war and peace.
”

For information on how to donate

goods (new and gently used) for

Piquette Square or to make a monetary

donation, contact Diane Jacobs of the

Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary at

Jacobsdi@gmail.com.

Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary of Michigan
creates care packages for veterans.
Blessings in a Bag

Alan
Muskovitz
Contributing
Writer

12 | NOVEMBER 10 • 2022

Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary of Michigan
members prepare “Blessings in a Bag” care packages
for veterans. From left: Estelle Gubow, Mona Gubow,
Vicki Adler, Diane Jacobs, Sheryl Erlich, Ellen Hechler
and Andi Weiss. (Vicky Levesque, not pictured).