JANUARY 19 • 2023 | 25

of West Bloomfield has been collecting toys,
books and games and bringing them to
Mrs. Schwab’s patio; baby paraphernalia is
always a huge hit. When Rhonda Ginsburg
of Southfield heard about the gemach, she
started posting online, asking for donations
of hangers, then she drives around town to
pick them up, and brings them all to Mrs.
Schwab’s porch.
“It’s a huge help, we used to scrounge
around for hangers,
” Mrs. Schwab said.

MEET SOME VOLUNTEERS
Judy Ishakis of Southfield has been help-
ing out at Ohel Leah twice weekly since
late 2020, except when she escapes the
Michigan winter with her husband, Jake.
“I first got involved after my mother
passed away. I was retired and needed
something to do,
” said Ishakis on a call
while relaxing on a sunny Florida beach.
“The ladies schmooze while we sort the
clothes; I really needed that, especially after
my mother died.
”
The volunteers jokingly nicknamed the
gemach “Mrs. Schwab’s boutique” and
Ishakis said a side perk is getting first pick
of the new stuff. She’s happily taken clothing
for her grandchildren from the bags and on
one occasion, found a new top so stunning,
she wore it to her grandson’s bar mitzvah.
Still, she said the best part is knowing that
so many people benefit from it.
“I really enjoy it and feel so good doing
it; it’s such a meaningful thing,
” Ishakis said.
“We’re all so excited when people come to
pick out clothes.
”
Leah Sarne of Oak Park also began vol-

unteering in 2020; she’
d been a secretary at
Yeshivas Darchei Torah in Southfield for 22
years but retired when COVID was preva-
lent.
“There are quite a few of us who put in
many hours of work every week,
” Sarne
said. “We really keep it up and so many
of the community benefit from it, myself
included. It takes a lot of teamwork to make
it successful … I’ve never seen so many
bags in my life! We live in a very generous
community!”

SHOPPING FOR FREE
It’s a win-win; people feel wonderful know-
ing that their donations are benefiting oth-
ers in the community while others wind up
with clothing they love for free.
Mindy Cohen moved to Oak Park from
Chicago in 2017 and only started going to
Mrs. Schwab’s gemach this year. Previously,
she had peeked inside and thought it looked
too claustrophobic for her. It was only
recently that a community member built a
strong carport over the racks and installed
flood lights.
“I had also been under the mistaken
assumption that it was only for people
who couldn’t afford clothes; but it’s not, it’s
for the entire general public,
” continued
Cohen, who has found a few useful items
at Ohel Leah for her and her son. She has
also donated many bags of clothing to the
gemach over the years.
“Mindy’s exactly right,
” Mrs. Schwab said.
“This gemach is not based on class or need.
It’s for whoever wants. Many community
members come — and there’s no embar-

rassment or stigma attached.
”
Many people are glad for the opportunity
to save, but there’s no doubt it’s especially
helpful for those with large families. Chaya
Stock of Oak Park, who has been browsing
the gemach for years, said, “I love ‘shopping’
at Schwab! We’ve gotten many things there
ranging from uniforms, robes, dresses,
coats, men’s shirts, you name it. It’s the best
place to shop first. Mrs. Schwab is always so
helpful. When she sees me, she comes out
to help and even tells me she’ll look out for
items if I’m after something specific.
”
Shoppers are always complimenting Mrs.
Schwab on how beautifully the gemach is
maintained and the quality of the offerings.
Best of all, people don’t feel like they’re
bothering her. They don’t even need to
knock on her door, they’re welcome to just
come, browse and take what they want.
“I’m not even home half the time. You
can just turn up whenever is good for you,
even at night — there’s good lighting now!”
Mrs. Schwab said. Sometimes, as she putters
around her house, she realizes there are
people browsing the clothes on her patio
and the realization fills her with joy.
“The best part is when I see empty hang-
ers — that means someone was there and
they found something they liked! It hap-
pens all the time and it’s wonderful,
” Mrs.
Schwab said. “It makes it all worth it for us.
Clothes prices are crazy these days — and
there’s no reason to spend. If you pick up
something at Ohel Leah, people would just
assume that you’
d been shopping at some
high-end store. There are only gorgeous
things here!”