Page 7 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

8th annual free holiday meals for Veterans

By Sarah Shurge November 17th, to receive a com-
It’s important to give thanks to plete Holiday Meal for free.
our veterans. That’s why Westland Veterans, active-duty service
Mayor Bill Wild, Wayne Mayor John members and/or their families can
Rhaesa, Wayne-Ford Civic League pick up their meal on Saturday, No-
President Vic Barra, and elected offi- vember 20th, between 10:00 a.m.
cials are coming together for the 8th and 1:00 p.m. at the Wayne Ford
Annual Holiday Meals for Wayne- Civic League on Wayne Road in West-
Westland veterans and active duty land.
families. If for any reason you are unable
“This is a meal provided by your to pick up your meal during the
community in gratitude for your scheduled day or hours of pickup,
service,” said Barra. “We want veter- contact the Wayne Ford Civic League
ans to get appreciation and pick up at (734)728-5010.
the meal even if they don’t need it. Assistance, special arrangements,
They can give it away to someone or delivery options are available.
that does.” Westland Community Police Officers
The program is for Wayne-West- will be delivering meals to veterans.
land veterans, surviving spouses, “We make sure everyone gets their
and families of active duty service meal if they sign up for it,” said
members. All you have to do is regis- Barra.
ter and then you will receive a free Veterans will receive a turkey with all the fixings. Barra has been involved with the
meal. receive a (12-16 pound) turkey, stuff- Office at (734)722-2000. program since day one when it
“This is a great program. The vet- ing, mashed potatoes and gravy, #3: You can download the Vet- started eight years ago.
erans I have met were very apprecia- sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, eran's Registration Form from the After retiring from Ford in 2019,
tive,” said Mayor Rhaesa. “I’m glad cranberry sauce, and heat and serve website listed above, fill it out, and Barra accepted the Director position
we are able to give back to the people rolls for a family of 6-8 people. email the completed form to either: under Mayor Wild. He also holds the
that have served our country and The meal is completely free, all Mayor Wild at mayor@cityofwest- title of Veteran Affairs Liaison. Barra
now it is our chance to serve them.” you have to do is register using one land.com or Mayor Rhaesa at is a veteran himself. He joined the
When the program originally of the four following methods: jrhaesa@cityofwayne.com U.S. Air Force in 1977. Now, Barra
started eight years ago, they were #1: You can register online with #4: Or you can pick up a Vet- manages all things veteran that go
only handing out turkeys. However, the online form at eran’s Registration Form at the West- through City Hall.
it quickly grew after two years to sup- cityofwestland.com/615/Holiday- land City Hall Greeter Station and “Giving back to the community is
ply an entire meal so veterans can in- Meals-for-Military-Members-Progr drop the completed form off at either what I do,” said Barra. “This meal is
vite their family or friends over to eat #2: You can call the Mayor's Of- City Hall building. a form of appreciation that's tangible.
with them. fice at either: Mayor Wild's Office at Applications must be submitted It's nice to hear thank you for your
Once registered, recipients will (734)467-3200 or Mayor Rhaesa's no later than noon on Wednesday, service.”
STEP to open new Thrift Store and Donation Center

Services To Enhance Potential Mikulski, President & CEO, STEP. Sales Manager, STEP. “Our stores Southgate/downriver arts commu-
(STEP) to host a grand opening Thrift store shopping is on an all- are for divas who dress with person- nity, transforming opportunities for
event for its newest STEP Thrift time high in growing numbers of var- ality, and do so on a dime,” added disabled adults in the region.
Store and Donation Center, and Pro- ied demographics. STEP provides Cooley. In addition to its new Southgate
gressive Art Studio Collective (PASC), successful retail/resale work experi- This is PASC’s first progressive location, STEP’s Progressive Art
to date, on Friday, November 12, ences for persons with disabilities art studio and gallery in Southgate. Studio Collective (PASC) has
2021, at 13705 and 13721 Eureka and other mental health needs in A progressive art studio is an open other Wayne County in-person stu-
Road, (next door to each other in Wayne County. In addition to STEP’s art studio model, used by many dis- dios and virtual studio programs in
Southgate Shopping Center), at new and largest Southgate location, ability programs across the world, Detroit and Westland.
10:00 AM. This new STEP Thrift it has two other Wayne County Thrift which helps artists with developmen- PASC Southgate will feature its
Store and Donation Center replaced Store & Donation Center locations, tal disabilities and mental health first exhibition titled, Introduc-
the Dix-Toledo Road, Southgate, loca- one in Dearborn Heights, and the needs to build art careers by encour- tions in the PASC Southgate Gallery.
tion. Both soft openings were held in other in Wayne. Many unique bar- aging the development of unique It will feature a series of por-
September and October 2021. STEP gains and treasures are waiting to be artistic styles and independent art traits by PASC artists in paint and
is aggressively growing in its offer- discovered. practices. drawing media, of people and ani-
ings. Watch for Your Thrift Store Diva The studios and galleries are mals; real, shamanistic, and fanci-
“With our nearly 50 years in to appear Live and on social media staffed by professional artists and ful.
business, not only have we grown with fun fashion tips. curators who share their practice All exhibition artwork is for
tremendously, but so have the de- “It's about confidence in who you and serve as peer advisors offering sale with 60% of the sale returning
mands of our consumers and of our are and frugally and fashionably encouragement and suggestions. to the artist. T-shirts, socks, post-
communities. We will continue to sharing it with the world,” said This studio and gallery will become cards, and calendars will also be
meet those demands,” said Brent Leah Paige Cooley, Regional Retail a significant part of the available.
The Wayne Dispatch · November 2021 · 7