The generous donation of time, goods, and money from Grosse Pointe UU's created a wonderful holiday season for many Detroit families and children. Twenty-three families plus the Resale Shop donated enough children's books to give both Clark School and Merit Academy five big boxes of otherwise unattainable reading material. The schools were also thrilled with the extra large gift bags of mittens and hats from our Mitten Tree, which were immediately distributed to children who had none. Huge thanks go to the twenty-nine families for their donations. The Ravendale Community Center was astounded by the donation of 37 overflowing Christmas baskets and they were profoundly grateful. We purchased 42 hams, 40 loaves of Pepperidge Farm hearty breads (they added a full box of fish-shaped sandwich breads that children like) with the $1,864 in cash contributions. A special thanks to Janet Peplin, "Super Shopper", who used some of the cash to purchase eight extra Christmas baskets in addition to her own, plus 15 hams. The 16 volunteers who received, checked, tagged, and delivered the baskets helped make the project a resounding success. To top it off, the Outreach Committee voted to donate the remainder of the money--$801.49--to the S.A.Y. Detroit Family Health Clinic for Homeless Children sponsored by Mitch Albom (www.saydetroit.org or 313.993.4700). We helped many people have a happier holiday!
-- Susan Boynton for Outreach
