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