Shelby Firefighters Host Red Hot Dinner Dance to Benefit Great Lakes Burn Camp

Tickets are on sale now for the Shelby Township Fire Fighters Local 1338's 23rd annual Red Hot Night Dinner Dance/Fundraiser at Cherry Creek Golf Club.

There are a lot of ways to fight fire, but a favorite among Shelby Township firefighters is their annual Red Hot Night, an annual dinner-dance and fund-raiser that benefits a weeklong camp for young burn survivors. The 23rd Annual Red Hot Night, hosted by Shelby Township Fire Fighters Local 1338, will be Feb. 16, 2013 at Cherry Creek Golf Club. Guests will enjoy a gourmet meal, drinks from the premium bar, dancing 'til midnight and chances to win dozens of door prizes and raffle items. All proceeds from the night benefit The Great Lakes Burn Camp. Held twice yearly, the weeklong camp is a special place where burn survivors ages 6-17 can heal and grow together. Last year, the event raised more than $13,000 for the camp. This year, …

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UCS Supports Nearly 200 Charities During Holiday Season

Utica Community Schools students are learning that charity can begin at school.

Random Acts of Kindness Ripple through Community: Share your Stories on Patch

Share your holiday giving stories with Patch readers.

The holiday giving season wafts through the air in Shelby Township, much like the scent of fresh brewed coffee at Biggby. While working from the Biggby Coffee on 21 and Hayes Road, I happened to look up in time to catch an adorable 8-year-old drop several toys into a bin for underprivileged kids. The smile that beamed on her face as she dropped the unwrapped presents into the box could have lit the entire coffee shop for a week. Julia Weihs' mom told Patch they have been wanting to drop off toys all week and finally got around to it Tuesday.  "It feels like I am giving something to someone, so they have stuff like I have," said the Collins Elementary School student. Random acts of kindness like this are in abudance during the holiday …

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10 Local Charities Compete in Suburban Collection $40K Giveaway

Vote daily for your favorite charity in The Great Charity Giveaway from now through 5 p.m. Friday.

Ten local charities are competing for $40,000 this week in The Great Charity Giveaway sponsored by The Suburban Collection. Established last year by the Troy-based automotive retail group, the winners of this year’s annual competition will be determined by visitors to The Suburban Collection’s website, www.SuburbanCollection.com, or their Facebook page.  In voting earlier this month, 10 charities were selected as finalists from 76 organizations nominated by local supporters. The 10 finalists are: “Our area is blessed to have so many groups who provide vital services to the citizens of Southeastern Michigan,” said David T. Fischer, chairman and CEO of The Suburban Collection.  “Supporting local, regional and national organizations dedicated…

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Firefighters Take to the Softball Field for MDA

Six Metro Detroit fire department softball teams took to the field at Kyte Monroe Park Saturday for the St. Clair Shores Firefigthers Local 1744 annual fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Firefighters from Shelby Township and five other departments took to the softball fields at Kyte Monroe Park Saturday for the annual St. Clair Shores Firefigthers Local 1744 annual fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Neighboring departments including Roseville, Mount Clemens/Harrison Township, Hazel Park, St. Clair Shores and Southfield paid a $250 entrance fee to participate in the round-robin tournament. "This is a way of raising money and having fun with other departments," said Dan Sebastian, who organized the tournament with fellow St. Clair Shores firefighter Scott Campbell. "This is for the kids." Hazel Park defeated Shelby Township 14-12 to win the tournament.

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Vote Now: Shelby Company to Award Family Free Roof

Ridgecon Construction will award one local family in need of some help this year a new roof.

A Shelby Township company will offer their gifts to a local family who is need of some help. Ridgecon Construction, through their "No Roof Left Behind" program will provide a free roof to a deserving family. After nearly four months of accepting nominations, a panel of Macomb County volunteers have selected the four finalists for the No Roof Left Behind program. Next, the public will decide who is the most deserving to receive a free roof this fall. The finalists include: Geraldine Walsh, a widow with incurable cancer from Sterling Heights; Dawn Singleton, a wife and car accident survivor from Eastpointe; Gerald Zanger, a liver transplant survivor from Roseville; and Pam Percha, an unemployed para-professional and single mother of two from…

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One More Thing for the Shopping List: A Good Deed

Spartan Stores shoppers can help Habitat for Humanity at the checkout by choosing to make a charitable purchase.

Shoppers often can be tempted by an impulse purchase at the checkout line. Perhaps by some candy or a magazine before the final tally is totaled. Beginning Feb. 19 VG’s shoppers can perform a charitable act at the checkout by opting to donate to Macomb County Habitat for Humanity. The fundraiser continues through March 10. All of Spartan Stores’ corporately owned Michigan locations are participating, including two in Macomb County: VG’s Food Center at 40832 Ryan, Sterling Heights, and VG's Food Center at 50820 Schoenherr, Shelby Township. This is the fifth year Spartan Stores have held the fundraiser, and it’s the third year easter Michigan VG’s stores have taken part. To donate, shoppers can buy a $1, $5 or $10 medallion at the check-out…

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Macomb Woman Needs Cards to Aid Young Cancer Patient

Laura Pokas of Macomb Township is trying to get a thousand cards sent to a young boy in his second battle with cancer.

UPDATE: As of Dec. 14, Laura Pokas has collected some 5,000 cards with well wishes. Editor's Note: In an earlier version of this story it was reported Joey was battling cancer for the third time. This is actually his second cancer, as his first brain tumor was benign. A Macomb woman has started a card drive to help a young boy battling cancer for the second time. Laura Pokas of Macomb Township has the goal of getting a thousand cards to give to Joey Caretti, 11, of Washington Township who is fighting leukemia, according to a story by WJBK-TV Fox Detroit. The hope is that the cards will give Joey support as he enters his third cancer fight following previous treatment for a brain tumor. You can read more about Joey's fight in the Fox …

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Laura Pokas

3:13 pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Karen, your cards were received and delivered! Have you checked the latest update that I received more then 20,000 cards/letters/gifts and they are still coming? We are researching additional ways to spread this love and support to others in need. A card is such a simple way to reach out and create a smile! There are so many Joey's in the world who could use one if people just looked for them.   more ›

Shelby Fire Trades Red for Pink to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Awareness

The Shelby Township Fire Department will be wearing pink T-shirts this month to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

To raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Shelby Township Fire Department will swap their favorite color, red, for pink. The department will be wearing pink T-shirts Oct. 18, 19 and 20. T-shirts can be purchased for $20 a piece at the Shelby Fire Department. All proceeds will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Janelle Hail started the National Breast Cancer Foundation more than 30 years ago after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 30s. The foundation’s Pink Ribbon Challenge has raised millions of dollars toward research, clinics and free mammograms.

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Paws For Life Rescue in the Running for $10K

With the help of Facebook users, Paws for Life could win up to $10,000 in The Great Charity Giveaway on Aug. 24.

With a little help from its Facebook friends, Paws for Life Rescue & Adoption could win $10,000 from The Great Charity Giveaway, sponsored by Troy-based auto dealer, The Suburban Collection. The Great Charity Giveaway awards monetary prizes to the top 10 charities that receive the most votes during the contest period. Only the charity with the most votes can claim the $10,000, but the contest will also award $5,000 to the runner-up, $3,000 to the third place winner and $1,000 to the charities ranked fourth through 10th. “Paws for Life is excited to be part of The Great Charity Giveaway and if the Rescue receives the most votes and wins $10,000, it will make a major difference for the homeless pets in our care,” said Courtney Protz-Sanders…

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Kristen Skladd

8:26 am on Sunday, August 14, 2011

Paws for Life all the way!   more ›