18 | DECEMBER 19 • 2024 J
N

O

n Christmas Day, hundreds 
of volunteers from the Detroit 
Jewish community will par-
ticipate in Mitzvah Day, a long-stand-
ing tradition where the Jewish commu-
nity spends the day giving back by vol-
unteering with local nonprofits across 
the Metro area. 
Volunteers will spread out across 
17 service sites, including food pan-
tries, shelters and community centers. 
Projects range from preparing and 
serving meals to organizing donations, 
wrapping gifts and visiting with resi-
dents in nursing homes. This collective 
effort allows nonprofit staff to enjoy 
Christmas with their families while 
ensuring their critical services continue 
uninterrupted. 
This year marks a new chapter 
for Mitzvah Day, now organized by 
the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s 
Community Relations Department. 
“Mitzvah Day is a cherished tradition 
that exemplifies the spirit of service 
and giving,
” said Nancy Welber Barr, 
chair of the Federation’s Community 
Relations Committee. “We are proud to 
continue this meaningful work while 
fostering new connections across our 
diverse Greater Detroit community.
” 

Since its launch in 1996, 
Mitzvah Day has evolved 
into more than a volunteer 
event; it is an opportunity 
for interfaith collaboration. 
Jewish volunteers work 
alongside partners from 
Hindu, Sikh and Muslim 
communities, strengthening 
ties through shared service. 
“Working together across faiths 
builds understanding and respect while 
making a tangible impact,
” said Welber 
Barr. 
Volunteer opportunities are avail-
able with the following organizations: 
Cass Community Social Services, 
Jewish Senior Life/Prentis Residence, 
Pope Francis Center–Day Center, 
Canterbury-on-the-Lake, Brilliant 
Detroit, St. Stephen’s Methodist Church 
–Jimmy’s Kids, HOPE Shelters, Christ 
Church, JARC, Bridging Communities 
Inc. and Vista Maria. 
As in past years, Mitzvah Day offers 
opportunities for all ages and abilities, 
including family-friendly projects. To 
learn more about Mitzvah Day and to 
volunteer, visit jewishdetroit.org/event/
mitzvahday24. 
 At one of the Detroit service sites, 

Jewish families help feed homeless 
guests on the Christmas holiday in 
a wonderful illustration of interfaith 
unity. 
Located in the heart of Downtown 
Detroit, the Pope Francis Center pro-
vides vital services to individuals expe-
riencing homelessness. On an average 
day, they welcome over 200 guests and 
provide them with nutritious meals, 
showers, laundry, and access to doctors, 
dentists, lawyers and housing providers 
through their free clinics. 
On Christmas Day, for Mitzvah Day, 
their Day Center provides a special 
meal and distributes backpacks full 
of gifts such as hygiene products and 
clothing for the winter season (thermal 
underwear, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, 
etc.) as a gesture of goodwill. 
Father Tim McCabe, president and 
CEO of Pope Francis Center, says the 
Mitzvah Day partnership with the 
Jewish community has gone back at 
least 10 years. 
It’s the busiest day of the year, 
McCabe says, and the Jewish commu-
nity’s help is much appreciated. 
“It’s a wonderful interfaith moment,
” 
he states. 
McCabe recalls a personal story from 

Mitzvah Day years ago that 
illustrates how special the 
day is. 
“I went to the back of 
the church where we’re 
distributing the gifts, and 
I noticed a woman with 
a hijab, and I introduced 
myself. I asked what brought her 
there, and she said she works with the 
Mitzvah group, doing volunteer service. 
“So, on a Christian holiday, there 
are Christians and Muslims and Jews 
all working together to serve God’s 
people, people who are less fortunate 
than us,
” McCabe said. “I was moved to 
tears. I thought, this is the reality — the 
majority of us are all good, God-fearing 
people, who care and show compassion 
for people less fortunate than us.
”
McCabe says the Jewish community 
has been committed to “being there” 
and helping with whatever they need 
on the busiest day of the year. 
“That’s common within the Jewish 
community, in my experience,
” 
McCabe says. “That sense of commu-
nity, helping others and tzedakah, it’s so 
beautiful.
“Mitzvah Day drops all barriers 
between religion, faith and culture, and 
we just work together to serve people 
who are really struggling,
” he added. 
“
And on Christmas, I don’t know that 
we could do it without them. 
“From this beautiful experience, my 
hope is we come to a deeper under-
standing of our common humanity, and 
that at our core, we’re all the same.” 

28th Annual Mitzvah Day 

Nancy 
Welber 
Barr

Hundreds of volunteers from the Detroit Jewish community 
are expected to support sites across the Metro area.

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

Father Tim 
McCabe

OUR COMMUNITY

Dan and Sue Stettner and Elyse, Ava and Ryan Cohen, all of 
Huntington Woods, and Eric Harris of Detroit (dressed as Santa) 
deliver meals for Bridging Communities in Detroit back in 2017.

A group of Mitzvah Day volunteers from the Michigan 
Muslim Community Council prepare to unload a truck 
full of gifts for Jimmy’s Kids in Detroit in 2017.

