Giving Back #5: Local Church and Synagogue Team Up, Need Help

Thanksgiving is next week and Patch wants to make sure you are ready.

Patch has published four stories on volunteering during the Thanksgiving season as part our five-day, Monday-Friday countdown publishing every morning in our newsletter. In case you've missed the past stories, here are links:

• Monday: 
• Tuesday: 
• Wednesday: 
• Thursday:

"I am My Brother's Keeper" Dinner Serving, Clothing Donations Sought

Mission: Temple Shir Shalom serves dinner to 100-150 individuals at Pilgrim Church, “I am My Brother’s Keeper” Ministry on 1435 Brainard St. at Trumbull Street in Detroit. The Temple needs your help to prepare the food, drive the food to the Church, serve dinner, or make a simple donation. This happens the fourth Thursday of every other month.

The Temple has also joined Pine Hill Congregational Church in helping with their Ministry that needs articles of clothing (especially mens jeans) for men, women, and children, toiletries, and monetary donations to help with the 50 bagged lunches they create or buy items like new underwear and thermal underwear that they deliver on the third Saturday of every month. You may donate these items to Pine Hill Congregational Church any time of the year.

Objective: To provide meals, warm clothing, and neccessities to the homeless throughout the year, but especially to make sure the homeless have these essentials around the holiday season.

History: This is the first year Temple Shir Shalom has made this commitment to Pilgrim Church. Pine Hill Congregational Church is in its second year of delivering bagged meals, clothing, and toiletries to “I am My Brother’s Keeper.” Linda Ketterer, a Pine Hill congregant, started the program when she realized two years ago around the holiday season, "There is nothing I need. I am so blessed."

So, she and her family decided to pool their holiday money together and use it for a charity.  Her daughter picked out “I am My Brother’s Keeper.” They originally began donating with just family and friends, and then asked their Church to help.  The program has been successful and rewarding to everyone involved ever since.

Help from home: You can make a monetary donation for the dinner Temple Shir Shalom serves by contacting the Temple at 248-737-8700. A donation of $36 feeds 10 people. You can donate gently used clothing, toiletries, or make a monetary donation to Pine Hill Congregational Church at any time by calling 248-626-2737. If you have a larger donation of clothing items, the Church will even come pick them up.