NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
New Volkswagen eLabs encourage innovation at Birmingham, Southfield elementary schools
BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com
BIRMINGHAM/SOUTHFIELD — Students at Birmingham Public Schools and Southfield Public Schools now have access to state-of-the-art Volkswagen eLabs — resources that promote innovation through STEM learning.
The VW eLabs are digital fabrication laboratories that provide students with hands-on opportunities with 3D printers, laser cutters and robotics systems.
In partnership with Volkswagen Group of America, the Public Education Foundation in Chattanooga funded these labs through a $1.8 million contribution. They are the first elementary schools in Michigan to have VW eLabs.
“We are proud and excited to partner with the Public Education Foundation and Volkswagen, who have made this generous in-
ORSON STARR HOUSE CELEBRATES 180 YEARS
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Orson Starr House, a historic landmark in the city of Royal Oak, celebrated 180 years on Oct. 19 with a special birthday party.
Guests toured the 1845 Greek Revival farmhouse, heard stories about the Starr family and enjoyed a celebratory slice of cake in honor of the milestone.
“They had a number of families, kids and old folks come and see it (the house),” said City Commissioner Sharlan Douglas, who is a trustee of the Royal Oak Civic Foundation, which made the celebration possible. “Ninety percent of the folks that came had never been there before, so we really did the
TOP: Alex Kerrington gives a tour of the Orson Starr House Oct. 19. The house features a decoration denoting its 180-year anniversary. ABOVE: A room in the Orson Starr House gives people some idea of what life was like in Royal Oak’s early days. Photos provided by Judy Davids
In the VW eLabs, students can create using 3D printers, laser cutters and robotics systems.
Photo provided by Christopher Behnan
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Courtney Monigold
Volunteers offer assistance and friendly conversation to lonely seniors
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — As they retire, experience age-related health conditions and even lose loved ones, some older adults may find themselves experiencing loneliness — possibly for the first time.
Loneliness and social isolation aren’t just emotionally taxing. According to the National Institute on Aging, those who are lonely or socially isolated are more likely to be admitted to the emergency room. Loneliness and isolation are also linked to greater risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, obesity, weakened immune function, cognitive decline, depression, dementia and death.
But there are local agencies that can provide comfort and companionship to seniors at no cost.
Macomb/Oakland counties
Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, based in Roseville, serves people in Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties. Despite the name, neither the volunteers nor the recipients need to be religious, explained Community Outreach Coordinator Stacey Conte.
“Our whole goal is to help seniors and disabled adults to stay in their own homes,” Conte said.
See SENIORS on page 10A
Volunteers
Participants in the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers program are paired with someone in the community who will visit with them on a regular basis. Volunteers often become close with the people they spend time with, as they get to know each other.
OAA & MAC PREP FOOTBALL REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — The 2025 high school football regular season has come to an end. Teams all over metro Detroit are celebrating division titles and preparing for district tournaments that kick off this weekend.
Oakland Activities Association
OAA-Red
The Oakland Activities Association Red division is widely considered to be one of the best divisions in the state. This year, Clarkston will take home the outright division crown after finishing 4-0 in the division. This is the first time that Clarkston has finished in sole possession of first place in the Red since the 2020 season,
SPORTS
when the program also went undefeated in the OAARed. Clarkston has won at least one playoff game every year since 2021. Oxford, Rochester Adams and West Bloomfield will also all be in the postseason, and Rochester Adams will face cross-town rival Rochester in the first round.
OAA-White
The OAA-White is also a premier division in the state, and in 2025 Harper Woods earned its first division title since joining the OAA in 2022. The school went a perfect 4-0 in the White and with a win on Oct. 24, completed an undefeated 9-0 regular season. Harper Woods is also the only team that defeated Clarkston in the regular season.
Birmingham Groves was the runner-up in the White and is always a threat in the postseason, while Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and Rochester will also participate in postseason play.
OAA-Blue
Farmington won the Blue this season for the first time since 2014 thanks to an undefeated season against OAA-Blue opponents. The difference ended up being a 35-22 win over rival North Farmington earlier this season. While the Blue was competitive this year, Farmington still recorded a 49-7 loss to Clarkston and will be an underdog the farther the team goes in postseason play. Birmingham Seaholm and North Farmington will also look to make noise in district play.
See FOOTBALL on page 5A
ABOVE:
at The Helm at the Boll Life Center pack meals that will be delivered to homebound seniors.
Photo provided by The Helm at the Boll Life Center
LEFT:
Photo provided by Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers
Orson Starr
from page 1A
job of introducing people to this charming piece of Royal Oak history.”
The Royal Oak Civic Foundation gave the Orson Starr House a $2,000 grant to throw the party.
“The Royal Oak Civic Foundation exists to raise funds for the city of Royal Oak programs and projects, and so in the round of grants last summer the Orson Starr House applied for funding to put on their birthday party to raise awareness of it,” Douglas said. “I understand they were very pleased with the results.”
Alexandra Kerrington, member of the Royal Oak Historical Commission and a volunteer at the Orson Starr House, led attendees through the history of the home and the Starr family on Oct. 19.
“The Starr House is the oldest standing home left in Royal Oak; it’s not the oldest one there ever was, but it is the only one that is left, so you can get an idea of how rare it is that we have such old buildings when we have so much development in Royal Oak,” Kerrington said. “It’s important that we have open houses and we have people coming in that have lived here their whole lives and have never been in the Orson Starr House.”
Originally the day was supposed to include a historical walk to significant areas in Royal Oak associated with the Starr family, but due to the rainy weather, it was not able to be done.
“It was a really good turnout considering we had a ton of rain that day. It was cold. … I was pleasantly surprised at how many people turned up right away. Before we even opened, we had people at our door,” she said. “Like I said, we had a lot of new visitors. We always love having returning visitors, but giving that first tour through the house is always special.”
Kerrington said that the best part about having this historical landmark in Royal Oak is the opportunity to teach people about the history of Royal Oak pioneers and their connections to the different parts of the city.
“You can see people connect the dots and discover the city’s origins. The Starr family were some of the first pioneers to come to this area in the state,” she said. “People don’t realize that the land they are living on could be Starr land.”
Getting the kids involved and taking them through tours of the Starr house is another favorite aspect of Kerrington’s.
“It’s really important, especially for the little kids as well. It’s my favorite way of teaching them how people used to live, and right here in their hometown,” she said.
The Starr House was built by Orson and Rhonda Starr, according to community engagement specialist Judy Davids. The Starrs were known for their craftsmanship in manufacturing cowbells, brick and tile, industries that supported the area’s early growth.
“The Starr House was built in 1845; this was a time of great immigration from eastern states into Michigan, and so the Starr family made cowbells and bricks, and especially when you think about the role of farming in the mid 19th century in Michigan, cowbells are such an important symbol of that agricultural background,” Douglas said. “And I will say, I mean, I am a history buff and a genealogist, and I will say that if you don’t learn from your history, how can you plan for your future?”
While the planned walking tour was canceled due to rain, residents can still explore the Starr family’s legacy on their own. A self-guided tour map is available to download at romi.gov/starr-walk. The route is 3.5 miles. For more information, visit romi.gov.
Guests admire the original photos within the Orson Starr House. Photo provided by Judy Davids
from page 3A
OAA-Gold
Ferndale’s first-year head coach, Donovan Jackson, will end Year 1 with an OAAGold title after going 4-0 in the division. The program hasn’t won the division since 2022 and has to be excited about the future. Unfortunately, the Gold wasn’t competitive enough for any team in the division to earn a playoff spot. Ferndale went 5-4 on the season and 1-4 against non-OAA-Gold teams, including a 44-8 loss to Harper Woods. No other team in the division finished with a .500 or better record.
Macomb Area Conference
MAC-Red
The MAC-Red is one of the tougher groups in the state, and this year Romeo finished with a 5-0 Red record with a division title for the first time since 2021. Romeo started the season 0-2 with losses to Rochester Adams and Grosse Pointe South, but then won the team’s next six games and will look to make a run in the postseason. Macomb Dakota, Utica Eisenhower and Sterling Heights Stevenson will all participate in the playoffs as well.
MAC-White
Since moving from the Red to the White in 2022, Grosse Pointe South has won the MAC-White every season. This year will mark four consecutive division titles for South; however, the team did suffer a 25-22 loss to MAC-White foe St. Clair Shores Lakeview. Utica, Lakeview, and Roseville will also participate in postseason play, and Roseville will face Grosse Pointe South in Round 1.
MAC-Blue
Port Huron Northern moved from the White to the Blue in 2022 and now has won
the division title in three out of four seasons. Northern beat its two biggest competitors in the division, Port Huron and Warren Cousino, by scores of 21-7 and 35-22 respectively. Cousino, Port Huron and Warren Mott all have seats at the postseason table as well, thanks to all three schools finishing with better than .500 records.
MAC-Gold
Warren Fitzgerald has been a consistent regular-season threat for several years now, but hasn’t won a MAC-Gold title since 2021. After a 5-0 Gold record, Fitzgerald is back on top of the division and will be looking to carry that momentum forward into district play. Marysville and Madison Heights Lamphere also had solid seasons in the MACGold and will play in the postseason.
MAC-Silver
Last season, Marine City was one of the bigger stories in the state due to a run that took the team all the way to the state semifinals. Marine City ended up losing to Jackson Lumen Christi, the team that ended up winning the Division 6 state title, but this year is in position again to advance in the postseason. Marine City went 5-0 in a Silver division that will have one other postseason participant in 7-2 Center Line.
MAC-Bronze
Two seasons ago, Madison Heights Madison went 0-9 and the school brought in coach Kyle Gary to try to right the ship. Last season, the school went 3-6, and in 2025 Madison celebrates a MAC-Gold title. The program went from 0-5 to 5-0 in division play in just two seasons and will look to carry that momentum into the postseason. Hazel Park, Clawson and Clinton Township Clintondale will also play in Districts as the Bronze takes four teams to the playoffs. For playoff matchups and times, visit MHSAA.com.
Editors: Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com Sports: Scott Bentley | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
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BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT— The F-Hole Wreckers prove that sometimes all you need are rockabilly tunes and a vintage hearse.
Since 2018, the rockabilly band has built a following while gigging at Freddy’s Bar & Grill in Clinton Township; the Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., in Clinton Township; the Old Miami in Detroit; and the Diesel Concert Lounge in Chesterfield Township. Each time they’re on stage, it’s the 1950s all over again.
With a Gretsch six-string slung over his shoulder is Kurt J. on lead guitar, vocals and pompadour. Drummer Bradley James fuels the band’s backbeat at just the right tempo. Rounding out the trio is Adam Bob slapping the upright bass influenced by his idols: Lee Rocker, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry and Marshall Lytle of Bill Haley & His Comets.
At shows, the audience is treated to original songs that include “Change My Direction,” “Ride of Frankenstein” and “Death Wish.” The F-Hole Wreckers also toss in cover songs with enough retro rockabilly vibes and sorchin’ surf sounds to get people dancing. When seeing the band live, there’s a feeling that Johnny Cash is watching from up above and Jerry Lee Lewis, if he could, would travel through time with his piano to join them on stage.
ABOVE: The 1984 Cadillac DeVille limousine hearse gets different reactions from people, some who love it and some who fear it. LEFT: The band added some decals to dress up the hearse that transports the rockabilly band’s instruments to shows.
The F-Hole Wreckers, from left, Adam Bob, Kurt J. and Bradley James, travel to gigs in a 1984 Cadillac DeVille limousine hearse. Photos by Erin Sanchez
Hearse
The F-Hole Wreckers share family ties: Kurt J. and Bradley James, of Chesterfield Township, are brothers who grew up listening to music that ranged from George Gershwin to Elvis Presley to Led Zeppelin. Their mom, Diane Mogan, was a music teacher whose students came to the family home for lessons. The brothers graduated from Lutheran High School North in Macomb Township.
As young kids, all three guys were exposed to artists from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Classical, jazz and rock made an impact. Part of their sound also stems from the heavy metal bands they like.
“There’s a lot. Slayer. Rammstein. Mastodon. Shining,” Bradley James said. “We go to a lot of metal shows. I think we play heavier than most rockabilly bands.”
Adam Bob, a 2006 Romeo High School graduate, started playing music when he was about 21.
“I started late,” he said. “I learned how to play electric bass first. My stepdad was a collector. I began playing bass by ear by listening to my favorite bands at the time.”
He switched to upright bass after listening to the Stray Cats.
“I ordered a cheap bass off eBay,” Adam Bob said. “I would play six hours a day. It’s different. It’s definitely harder to play. You need this kind of instrument to play jazz and rockabilly.”
Adam Bob also is “big on country music.”
“I can’t get enough ’90s roadhouse country,” he said. “Alan Jackson, Joe Diffie, Vince Gill.”
The F-Hole Wreckers also pay homage to rockabilly kings the Stray Cats, occasionally performing as the Strait Cats. Because of the two bands, they decided on a company name under the moniker the F-Hole Wrecking Co. As for the name, F-holes are basically a pair of sound holes on a guitar that are shaped like the letter f.
‘One of the slowest things I’ve ever ridden in’
While most bands use trucks or vans to transport their instruments to gigs, the FHole Wreckers stay in tune driving a 1984 Cadillac DeVille limousine hearse, a car meant for funerals.
When the group found the vehicle, “It looked like it had been dragged out of a
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swamp,” Kurt J. said. “You could see all the history and all the years from the different paint colors.”
No worries, though. Kurt J. is a mechanic and fixed it up.
“We brought it back from the dead. I just basically painted it with industrial enamel paint to make a nice white top,” Kurt J. said. “After that, I said, ‘I’m done.’ I like how it looks. I like that it’s not finished.”
The hearse fits all the band’s equipment: guitars, the double bass, drums and monitors.
“Those limos, they’re extra long,” Kurt J. said. “Because it was off a limo platform, there is a lot of extra space.”
The talented musicians travel by hearse locally and have cruised to Traverse City; Arcadia, Michigan; Dayton, Ohio; and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The guys often let other people sit in it and take pictures. The ride brings out different reactions from people.
“We’ve had both experiences. One of sheer joy when they see us coming down the road. They look at this thing and go ‘I can’t believe what I’m seeing.’ Then you have the other people that look at it and freak out, clench their purse, back up, grab their dog and hold their kids tight,” Kurt J. said. “There’s people out there that are scared of it. There’s people out there that think it’s
cool. Sometimes they ask, ‘Are there dead people in there?’ or ‘Aren’t you worried about any spirits?’”
Bradley James said the rig is a great way to promote live shows, because wherever you find the hearse, you find the band. The bandmates agree the car drives “low and slow.”
“One of the slowest things I’ve ever ridden in, zero to 60,” Adam Bob said. “Whatever gets us there.”
Rockabilly music, classic cars, junkyards and greased-back hair sync with each other, but why?
“It’s American rock ‘n’ roll. It’s American motors,” Bradley James said. “Everything popped big in the ’50s.”
“It’s been that way since the creation,” Adam Bob said. “When hillbilly and rock ‘n’ roll merged together, it attracted all the rebels.”
The F-Hole Wreckers are such big fans of the rat rod car style that they hold a Rat Rod Rally every summer at Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in Mount Clemens.
“A rat rod is a half-done vehicle that has an upgraded, hot-rodded engine but nothing else,” Kurt J. said. “It’s really bare bones. Usually a rat rod is something you kind of just climb into, but it runs. It looks gnarly.”
Check out the band at fholewreckers. com.
City celebrates the long-awaited opening of Sakura Novi development
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
NOVI — After years of planning and hard work, taiko drums sounded and a rainbow appeared over the ornate Japanese garden in the heart of the Sakura Novi development off Grand River Avenue in Novi following the garden’s dedication Oct. 23.
“While this project was first announced around 2017, I know that the hard work, ideas and the dreams behind it started well before that as a vision to create a place that will bring people together and celebrate culture, connection and diversity, right here in Novi,” Mayor Justin Fischer said.
Fischer said the city is proud to have Sakura Novi in the city. He recalled that the area where the development now sits was once the site of a coin-operated car wash that had long been vacant.
“What was once a row of washbays and vacuums is now a beautiful garden and a pond for everyone to enjoy, surrounded by some wonderful businesses and residences that will support Novi’s economic development for years to come. This is now a place that reflects how far this project and our city have come,” Fischer said. “What makes this garden so special is that it is not just a place, but a symbol. Sakura Novi celebrates our community’s deep connection to the Asian culture, something that has helped shape Novi for decades.”
According to Scott Aikens, co-owner of Sakura Novi, the Japanese and international-themed main street district that combines retail and residential developments in one centralized location is the culmination of a dream of the city of Novi, Oakland County, the Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit and the Japanese Business Society of Detroit.
“We are developing and curating a development focused on (an) Asian theme that has a sense of harmony among the food experiences and also how you live and how you take care of your health,” said Phil Kim, co-owner of
Novi currently offers townhouse rental units near 11 Mile Road, 13 Asian-owned and/or -themed businesses off Grand River Avenue, and a boardwalk across a 2-acre pond surrounded by Japanese cherry trees that brings the two types of real estate developments together.
“Novi has over the years become a critical home away from home for the 15,000-person-strong community of Japanese citizens living here affiliated with global corporations including Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Asahi Denso and many more,” Aikens said. “These families and individuals living for a time in Michigan, like so many others, will find de-
See SAKURA NOVI on page 9A
Sakura Novi.
Sakura
ABOVE: A rainbow shines over the Sakura development during the Oct. 23 event.
LEFT: Sakura Novi partner Scott Aikens addresses a crowd during the dedication of the Sakura garden.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
Sakura Novi
light at the Sakura gardens and at Sakura Novi. I hope this reflects well in Japan and elsewhere on Michigan when individuals return home.”
According to Aikens, they have plans to develop an area nearby with additional apartments.
On the retail end of the project, two businesses celebrated their grand opening as well on Oct. 23: Klawsome!, a claw machine arcade, and Paris Baguette, part of an international chain based in South Korea.
According to Michal and Agnes Filipowski, of Novi, who own Klawsome!, claw machine arcades are quite popular in Asian countries and in many other states. However, Klawsome! is the first claw machine arcade in Michigan. She said they looked at many other possibilities for their business, but felt the Sakura development was the perfect spot.
“We actually did look at possibilities at, like, Twelve Oaks or, like, other areas of Novi, but when we saw that the whole purpose of Sakura was to have Asian American themed businesses, this felt like the best place for us anywhere in Novi or anywhere in Michigan, really,” Agnes Filipowski said.
She said that when one of her interns noticed the rainbow following the dedication ceremony for the Sakura garden and asked if it symbolized luck, she felt it was definitely a good sign.
“I felt like it was a good metaphor, that through all the struggles that we’ve had trying to open this business for our family, as far as lots of delays, the tariff situation, everything that comes with opening a small business, that we’ve finally got to the rainbow and it’s just looking brighter from now on,” Agnes Filipowski said.
Councilman Dave Staudt recalled the start of the development years ago and how they had kept the dream alive through all the years and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When we thought we were going to give up, we just pushed through, and you know, here we are today, we have this spectacularly beautiful development, and you know, frankly, this is what business is about, you have a difficult time — the rewards are much greater at the end,” Staudt said.
“We set ourselves to our goal of bringing a global experience to downtown Novi, and I believe we succeeded,” Kim said.
Aikens said they have five more business openings planned in the coming months, and they still have room for a couple of more businesses to make their home at Sakura Novi.
eLabs
from page 1A
vestment that will serve generations of our students,” Birmingham Public Schools Superintendent Embekka Roberson wrote in an email. “One of our accomplished science teachers, Doug Baltz, is an Albert Einstein Fellow, which has placed him in national spaces and conversations about science education. Through Mr. Baltz’s connections, Birmingham and Southfield were identified as ideal locations for this next phase of the program. Our staff expertise, student enthusiasm and community support made Birmingham schools a natural fit for the program.”
VW eLabs opened at Birmingham Public Schools’ Beverly Elementary, Bingham Farms Elementary, Covington Middle School, Greenfield Elementary, Harlan Elementary, Pembroke Elementary, Pierce Elementary, Quarton Elementary and West Maple Elementary; and Southfield Public Schools’ Adler Elementary, Stevenson Elementary, Thompson K-8 International Academy and University K-12 Academy.
Jennifer Martin-Green, Southfield Public Schools superintendent, said that “the earlier we are able to expose scholars to real-world application, the better opportunities they have to select career pathways in the later grades. This gives us an opportunity to allow them to explore with tools that industry professionals are currently using in an environment that is controlled and safe.”
Digital fabrication laboratories give students the space to make their digital designs into innovative physical creations.
In addition to gaining skills in technology, students have the opportunity to grow skills that will help them in their careers — such as creativity, adaptability and collaboration.
“These facilities will provide our youngest learners with a leg up in learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fundamentals to help prepare them for jobs that don’t even exist yet,” Roberson wrote in an email.
Seniors
While they prioritize those who are low income or don’t have family nearby, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers does assist some people who don’t fall into either of those categories. Conte said volunteers will do things like light housework, minor home repairs and yardwork; provide respite care for family caregivers; and take program participants to medical appointments.
“We try to customize our services to what our volunteer skill set is,” Conte said.
One of their most popular services is their companion program. Conte said a senior is matched with a volunteer based on shared interests and geography, and the volunteer will connect with the senior either through weekly or bi-weekly home visits or phone calls.
“That’s one of our most popular services,” Conte said. “A lot of people are isolated and lonely, especially since the (COVID-19) pandemic.”
Conte said it’s not uncommon for volunteers and seniors to become close; in some cases, they find themselves being invited for holiday meals or birthday celebrations.
“A lot of them become really good friends,” Conte said.
The group runs background checks on volunteers and sends a representative with the volunteer on the first visit, Conte said.
To volunteer or to receive services from Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, go to ivcinfo.org or call (586) 757-5551 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
Catholic Charites of Southeast Michigan, which serves residents of Oakland and Macomb counties, offers a similar program, called the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program.
Carmela LaCommare, program manager for the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program, said they pair volunteers age 55 and older with seniors or disabled individuals age 21 and over for friendly visits.
“It helps older adults who are homebound,” LaCommare said. “Our older adults in our community sometimes don’t have family members nearby.”
Volunteers are matched with participants based on similar interests, skills or hobbies. Besides providing companionship, volunteers might take participants to medical appointments or the grocery store, or out to lunch or to bingo or other events.
LaCommare said the average age of their volunteers is 80, and they have one vol-
unteer who just celebrated her 91st birthday.
“It’s an awesome program,” LaCommare said. “Seniors understand each other.”
LaCommare said they currently have a waiting list and need more volunteers.
Volunteers undergo an extensive background check and training, she said.
To volunteer or have a volunteer assigned to you, call (248) 537-3300.
Grosse Pointes/Harper Woods
Residents in the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods age 55 and older can turn to The Helm at the Boll Life Center in Grosse Pointe Farms for companionship through the Friendly Reassurance Program. Volunteers are paired with seniors and must have at least monthly communication with each other, although Helm Case Coordinator Allie Short said most talk two to four times per month. Some volunteers stay in touch with their senior by phone, but Short said home visits are possible as well.
“The goal of the program is to decrease isolation and loneliness,” Short said. “We (also) want to get a sense of how the person is doing and see if they need any supports outside of connection.”
Volunteers also benefit.
“Volunteerism is another way to combat loneliness and isolation,” Short said. “We feel better ourselves when we’re giving back.”
The Helm offers Meals on Wheels to local seniors, but thanks to a recent grant, they’ve been able to add extra deliveries of either prepared dishes or boxes of produce, in conjunction with Edibles Rex and Eastern Market. Short said they try to have volunteers deliver these meals while the senior is home, so the volunteers can check on them and make sure everything is all right.
“Sometimes that food delivery turns into a bit of conversation,” Short said. “It’s one more time a week they’re able to have a friendly visitor and a delicious meal.”
To participate in the Friendly Reassurance Program, call Short at (313) 649-2106 or email her at ashort@helmlife.org. To volunteer for Helm programs or to be added to the meal delivery list, call The Helm at (313) 882-9600.
“We care,” Short said. “We want to (get to) know you… So please call.”
To find other local support resources for seniors and their families, call the National Institute on Aging’s Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116.
