20 | OCTOBER 10 • 2024 J
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’shana tovah, fellow do-good-
ers! Let’s kick off the new year
by committing to help others
in our community. Whether you are
looking for a one-time opportunity
down the street or you’ve been itch-
ing to visit Israel, I encourage you to
choose an activity that speaks to you.
Birthright Israel, in collabora-
tion with Shalom Corps Platform at
Mosaic United, is running a two-week
volunteering program where people
from outside of Israel can come to
Tel Aviv and take part in food rescue
operations to prevent shortages in the
Israeli market, including work to sort,
pack and distribute goods for civil and
military personnel. Dates are available
through April 2025 and highly subsi-
dized. For more, visit birthrightisrael.
com/volunteer-in-israel.
Make a difference in a few hours
that can last decades! ReLeaf
Michigan, a nonprofit tree orga-
nization, in collaboration with the
Johnson Nature Center, Friends of the
Johnson Nature Center, Bloomfield
Hills Schools and the DTE Energy
Foundation, is planting 25 trees at the
Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield
Hills on Saturday, Oct. 12. Wear
closed-toe shoes and bring a shovel,
hard rake and gloves, if you have
them. Sign up at johnsonnaturecenter.
org/events/tree-
planting-planting-
trees-growing-
communities. The
event occurs from
8:45 a.m.-noon,
rain or shine.
Families are wel-
come!
In partner-
ship with diverse
communities,
Spaulding for
Children’s mission
is to develop and
integrate innova-
tive programs that provide families
the support needed to enhance the
care of children and youth with
the pursuit of permanency. On the
evening of Oct. 18, Spaulding for
Children is hosting a Trunk or Treat
event that will take place in their rear
parking lot in Southfield. They need
up to 20 cars/trucks with their trunks
decorated, lined up and passing out
goodies to the kids who come through
to trick or treat in a safe environment.
Volunteers can decorate a trunk, help
pass out donuts, hot cocoa cider and
candy. To sign up, contact Stacey
Oakes at soakes@spaulding.org.
Join Jewish Family Service for the
28th Annual Fall Fix Up on Nov. 3 to
help winterize homes of older adults
served by the orga-
nization. Many
local organizations
will partner to rake
leaves, clean out
garden beds, clean
windows and more.
The event kicks off
at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek with
coffee, bagels and a
quick introduction
before tending to
the homes. To sign
up, visit jfsdetroit.
org/how-you-can-
help/volunteer/fallfixup.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-
profit organization that helps families
build and improve places to call home.
They believe affordable housing plays
a critical role in strong and stable
communities. The Habitat Oakland
County ReStores are nonprofit, home
improvement stores and donation
centers that sell new and gently used
furniture, home accessories, building
materials and appliances to the public
at a fraction of the retail price. ReStore
volunteer tasks include organizing
inventory, pricing merchandise,
assisting customers, stocking shelves,
etc. There are two ReStore locations
(Waterford and Farmington Hills)
looking for volunteers. To sign up,
visit habitatoakland.org/volunteer/
restore-opportunities. For information
on volunteering, contact the Habitat
for Humanity Volunteer Department
at volunteer@habitatoakland.org.
The DRE Project is dedicated to
helping people throughout Metro
Detroit by providing delicious home-
cooked meals and essential groceries.
Volunteers are invited to participate in
the DRE Project’s initiative to provide
Birthday Boxes to families in need.
These boxes are designed to bring joy
and celebration to those facing hard-
ships. Sign up to assemble the boxes
and create personalized cards to be
delivered along with essential grocer-
ies at thedreproject.org.
Volunteers are needed for the
Detroit Jewish Book Fair at The J
Nov. 6-17. Opportunities include
greeters to welcome guests and
cashiers for purchases (simple training
required). Volunteers can listen in on
speaker/author sessions (for non-tick-
eted events). For more specific hours
and information, contact Sandimatz@
gmail.com.
ORT America Michigan Region
needs volunteers to help with
WINGO on Nov. 7 for shifts between
4:30-10 p.m. High school students in
need of community service hours can
help with the silent auction, spotting
BINGO winners and passing out gift
bags. Adult volunteers are needed for
registration, selling BINGO cards,
auction checkout, etc. Email nmiller@
ortamerica.org to learn more.
If your organization is looking for volunteers,
email Samantha Foon at samanthafoon14@
gmail.com for possible inclusion in an upcoming
column.
A New Resolution?
Commit to helping others in the new year.
SAMANTHA FOON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
OUR COMMUNITY
Last year’s
JFS Fall
Fix Up