O

n one of her shifts 
delivering Kosher 
Meals on Wheels, 
volunteer Evva Hepner walked 
up to a home, knocked on the 
door and announced why she 
was there. “The participant 
opened the door telling me: 
‘You are angels on wheels,
”” 
recalls Hepner, 72, who lives in 

Farmington Hills. 
That sentiment is echoed 
by many homebound older 
adults, who can remain in their 
own homes because of the 
essential meals service offered 
by National Council of Jewish 
Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI) 
and Jewish Family Service of 
Metropolitan Detroit (JFS) and 

which is now celebrating its 
50th anniversary. Lunches and 
dinners can be provided on a 
temporary basis for an older 
person recovering from injury 
or illness, or on an ongoing basis 
for those who have challenges 
leaving their home to go shop-
ping for food or have difficulties 
cooking.

“I just wanted to say thank 
you so much for the delivery 
today. It was below zero; it 
would be impossible for me to 
get a ride to the store,
” was one 
participant’s recent message to 
the Meals on Wheels phone line. 
“Farmington Transit is not run-
ning this week. I am so, so very 
grateful. If you ever have any 
way of honoring the volunteers I 
would be happy to send a letter 
if you want. I mean they are 
unbelievable, delivering in this 
frigid weather.
” 
Hepner, the “angel” who start-
ed working for the program in 
2019 and headed coordination 
of the volunteers during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, confirms 
that the service rarely cancels. 
“If the weather is really bad, we 
will send two days of food so 

Delivered 
 
 with a Smile

LEFT: 
Aviva Fridman, Marilynn Sabin, 
Susan Curhan, Cindy Kavieff, 
Linda Greenfield.

BELOW, L TO R: 
Kosher Meals on Wheels. 
volunteers in 1996. Meals 
on Wheels delivery 1992.

LIANA SPIEGEL

NCJW | MI and JFS celebrate 50-year partnership 
of Kosher Meals on Wheels.

ALISON SCHWARTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

8 | MAY 2 • 2024 
J
N

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

