3 minute read
Spreading Warmth
OUR COMMUNITY
Spreading Warmth
Advertisement
Renee Kaplan began work in August on blankets for shelter animals.
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
TOP: JARC person served Renee Kaplan and one of the blankets she’s made and donated to Michigan Animal Rescue League. BELOW: Renee Kaplan and her JARC Direct Care Worker Shoshana Rubenstein display a selection the blankets Renee made for the dogs and cats at Michigan Animal Rescue League.
PHOTOS COURESY OF JARC Renee Kaplan, a person with developmental disabilities being assisted by a JARC independent living skills (ILS) program, has used her hobby of making blankets during the pandemic to help others.
On Jan. 29, Kaplan donated 25 handmade blankets to the Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) located in Pontiac. The washable, tie fleece blankets will be used for rescue kittens and puppies, adult dogs and cats, and any other use MARL has for them. Kaplan, 60, paid for all the supplies used to make the blankets and started working on them around August.
Kaplan’s passion for giving back was instilled by her parents who, she said, showed her the importance of volunteering by volunteering a lot when she was growing up.
Shoshana Rubenstein, the JARC direct care worker who regularly works with Kaplan, encouraged her to continue this passion project throughout the pandemic.
This was Kaplan’s first time donating blankets somewhere, though she learned to make blankets in the 1980s. It’s been an on-and-off-again hobby ever since. Kaplan has been involved with JARC ILS for more than 25 years and worked at the JCC for over 40 years.
Kaplan decided to start the project as she just wanted to do something for animals in shelters. She also had a rescued dog growing up.
She has also set aside more blankets for foster kids at Orchards Children’s Services to be donated for Valentine’s Day.
“I want to keep the animals warm and the kids warm, just to help them stay out of the cold,” Kaplan said.
KEEPING BUSY
Rubenstein says the main reason for Kaplan deciding to make blankets is because during
Renee Kaplan and Shoshana Rubenstein present a new blankets to the Michigan Animal Rescue League puppy “Rose.”
A collection of several of the 25 blankets made by Renee Kaplan and donated to Michigan Animal Rescue League.
the pandemic, every volunteer activity she was involved in had been shut down.
“We sat here, and it was very difficult for everybody, and still is,” Rubenstein said. “And I think sometimes we just have to look for the light in the darkness, about what we can do, what we can contribute, instead of thinking of all the things we couldn’t.
“We had to go forward and find a light in there, and I think the blankets are symbolic of warmth from our hearts and warmth in embracing the animals and children who are going through very rough times.”
Kaplan designed the blankets with many different patterns, including football, dogs and cats, elephants, Spider-Man and rainbows.
Kaplan said she would like to make more blankets and donate more in the future and hopes to see others contribute to similar causes.
“Even in the depth of darkness, we can find something out there and do good in the world,” Rubenstein said. “And I think by doing this, Renee has felt really good, and it empowered her to do something beautiful and good in the world.”
(313) 963-6255 | www.dumoart.com 409 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
THE FEBRUARY 24TH & 25TH AUCTIONS
SALVADOR DALI
RICHARD WILT CHUANG CHE
JOAN MIRO
MARK TOBEY
AARON DOUGLAS
MARC CHAGALL
EAMES KÄTHE KOLLWITZ
HARTMAN
