May 2020
Serving Our Seniors
The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce worked on behalf of Chaldean grocers and with Wayne County Executive Warren Evans in replenishing food banks for needy seniors. Special thanks to the team at D and B Grocers for supporting the initiative.
HelpingHandsChange.org
Many organizations are doing amazing work during this world healthcare crisis. Helping Hands is one of them. A student run movement, they are adapting to help in this no-contact world. So far they have:
• Had over 40 volunteers read books to preschool students virtually in order to further develop their reading skills during this time.
• Instilled a PenPal system with over 200 letters sent to younger students to remind them that they are not alone at this time.
• Put in place a statewide online tutoring system so that the transition to Virtual Learning can be easier for students.
• Set up a Counseling Hotline so that students have another individual to talk to in times of need or uncertainty.
• Put together a Virtual Spirit Week and video for several districts in order to remind them that they are a part of a community.
• Partnered with a local organization called Mediumize and a business called Originally Inspired Designs to donate $200 worth of food to first responders and create personalized cards for them.
Kudos to this great organization doing great work!
Providing Equipment:
In the midst of crisis, our Chaldean community rises to the challenge. Value Wholesale turned operations around quickly to start producing personal protective equipment for healthcare and frontline workers, using their 3-D printers and half their warehouse space. FOX 2 Detroit interviewed Matt Loussia and Brian Loussia about their efforts.
At the request of Jennifer Karim, Lead ER Physician Assistant and Program Director of Ambulatory Services for IEP at Ascension Providence Novi, Wild Bill’s Tobacco donated more than 2,000 surgical masks and 2,000 surgical gloves to Ascension Providence Novi and several other health systems. Wild Bill’s COO Nick Konja personally made the delivery to Jennifer.
Guardian Angel Home Care is another Chaldean business stepping up to support healthcare providers with respirators. We are so proud of our community!
Trevor George, Founder and CEO of TrevCo, is using his business to help with this “new normal” of wearing face masks. For every mask purchased another is donated to a business in need. At the time of reporting, 5,000 masks had been donated to first responders.
Feeding our Frontline
Donut Bar + Coffee thanked front line healthcare workers at area hospitals for their service and commitment by giving out hundreds of free donuts. What a sweet way to say “thanks!”
Westland, Michigan Councilwoman Tasha Green, Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans and Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce offered Samaritas non-perishable food items to assist their homeless families during this COVID-19 crisis. Says Chamber president Martin Manna, “We were so happy to assist with this effort. Shout out to Trepco Wholesales in Madison Heights and D & B Grocers for their amazing generosity!”
Ishtar Restaurant shared the love as they prepared meals for volunteers to take to shut-ins and those without help. Donations poured in as people found out what they were doing.
Nicks Chips donated boxes of chips to satisfy snacking urges for ER workers at DMC in Detroit and Beaumont Health in Royal Oak.
The staff at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital were treated to Hungry Howie’s pizza through a generous donation from Interlink Foods.
“Covid kindness” continued over the weekend with Regency Manor & Banquet Center wrapping and delivering over 1,000 Shawarma sandwiches to area healthcare heroes. Says Jason Najor, “We feel like it’s our duty.”
Shawarma Grill and Ziad Battah showed appreciation for employees at Henry Ford Health System in West Bloomfield and Beaumont Health Royal Oak by donating tons of healthy and tasty dinners.
Vinotecca got into the spirit by working with Detroit’s Front Line Appreciation Group (FLAG) to ensure our local healthcare workers have delicious and nourishing meals while they fight on the front lines. Says Kristen Jonna, “My chef Jose, manager Thomas, and myself have served 535 meals in the last two days to Beaumont and Hutzel Hospitals. It has been so much fun to get back into the kitchen! My kids and husband helped too!”
This Easter, the Chamber and the Chaldean Diocese wanted to do something special for the healthcare workers and first responders who are working so hard to keep us safe. With volunteers and donations from the community they were able to deliver hundreds of boxes of sweets and desserts to area hospitals, fire departments and police departments on Sunday. This is what it looks like when a community comes together!
250 meals were delivered to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department
75 meals were delivered to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department
Wild Bill’s Gives Big
Wild Bill’s Tobacco shops have been closed since the stay-home order, but they have not been idle. Chief Executive Officer Mike Samona, Chief Operating Officer Nick Konja and the entire Wild Bill’s team responded to the crisis immediately, contributing 5,000 masks, 2,000 pairs of gloves and thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer to Ascension Health at the end of March. Not to show favoritism, they then delivered 1,000 masks to Henry Ford Health System.
Not forgetting our first responders, Wild Bill’s gave 1,000 masks and digital thermometers to the Detroit Police Department, delivered 500 masks to Westland Police and gave an additional 2,000 disposable masks for intake and inmates, and provided Burton Police with 1,000 masks and gloves.
Our independent grocers were at risk, so Wild Bill’s, led by Konja and team, gave them more than 2,000 masks to protect themselves. Our seniors in assisted living homes are vulnerable, so they delivered masks and hand sanitizer to multiple senior homes. Local doctors offices also received surgical masks and sanitizer. Everywhere there was a need, Wild Bill’s was there. Konja called the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and asked for help connecting with more first responders and more hospitals.
The last week in April, Wild Bill’s donated 1,000 meals a day for first responders and healthcare professionals; delivering to more than 50 locations, including Beaumont Troy and the West Bloomfield and Sterling Heights Police Departments. Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital alone received 850 meals, feeding their entire staff!
Wild Bill’s is supporting area restaurants, too, who might otherwise be underworked with the dine-in option unavailable. Konja reached out to Roman Village Cucina Italiana in Dearborn to order individual pizzas, pastas, and breads. Konja and Patrick Rugiero of Roman Village made sure the meals included a variety of choices, including vegetarian options, and each meal package included chips, fruit, bottled water and a disposable mask.
They aren’t looking for recognition and didn’t publicize their generosity, but Wild Bill’s exemplifies the very best of our community, giving and open hands, and a servant’s heart.