Bloomfield Hills, MI, December 2017 – Detroit’s Jewish community will welcome fellow volunteers from the area’s Muslim community on Monday, December 25 to take part in Mitzvah Day, the annual single largest day of volunteering by Detroit’s Jewish community. Volunteers of all ages will participate in dozens of social service projects throughout metro Detroit so that their Christian neighbors can celebrate Christmas at home with their families.
Please note most volunteer activities that are cleared for media coverage will take place between 6:30 am – 1 pm on Christmas Day. The Piquette Square site in Detroit will run until 3p.m., and Brilliant Detroit in Detroit and Hope Adult Center in Pontiac, will both host volunteers until approximately 4:00 p.m. A list of sites cleared for media is attached.
Mitzvah Day is presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Drawing on the shared value of community service, nearly 1,000 Jewish volunteers will be joined for the eighth year by their Muslim neighbors to take part in “mitzvahs” (good deeds), aiding Detroit area social service agencies at nearly 50 different community sites on Christmas Day. The Michigan Muslim Community Council is coordinating volunteer participation from the local Muslim community for Mitzvah Day.
Volunteer teams will fan out to pre-assigned sites throughout metro Detroit. Project times vary, running between 6:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Many grandparents, parents and children will volunteer together as families. In the spirit of giving back to the community, volunteers will donate a few hours of their time to participate in a variety of activities, including visits to older adults in nursing care facilities, preparing and serving holiday meals, and delivering toys and gifts to families in need.
Mitzvah Day event chairs are Micki Grossman, Illana Stern and Milt Neuman. For more information about Mitzvah Day, call the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC, 248-642-5393.