The party has completed three separate charity programs this holiday season designed to provide food, Christmas presents, and warm clothing for needy families, Pam Green, chair of the party's Blue Tiger Committee, says.
"e recognize that the needs in our community are especially great this year because of the precarious situation with the American automobile industry so we wanted to step up our activities as much as possible," Green said.
"Our members were extremely generous, even though some of them wonder whether they themselves will have jobs for much longer and whether their pensions are sound."
Green said the party's members donated funds for clothing, toys, and gift certificates totaling $350 for a three-person family under the Salvation Army's Adopt-a-Family program.
Party members also delivered 168 pounds of non-perishable food items and $335 in cash, doubled by a matching-grant certificate, to Gleaners Food Bank’s Livingston County Distribution Center. Overall, the party’s donation will result in 2,514 meals being made available to the hungry, or enough for a family of four for seven months.
In addition, party members shopped for warm winter clothing for four families selected for assistance under the Ann Arbor News’ Warm the Children Fund.
Green said the party’s community efforts will not end with the holidays. The Blue Tiger program is the arm of the Michigan Democratic Party devoted to putting progressive values into action. The Blue Tiger was the traditional symbol of the national Democratic Party until cartoonist Thomas Nast used a donkey to represent the party in political cartoons in the 19th century.
"Many voters in the United States have come to believe that neither party really cares about them or their problems. We want to show people that Democrats care about their local communities year-in and year-out, and not just at election time," she said.
Other activities are in the works, including a monthly knitting and crocheting club to make items such as hats for soldiers and lap robes for veterans and the elderly, a collection of food and other items for pets of people who can’t afford to buy such items, and so on. In addition, donations of cash or non-perishable food items will be accepted for Gleaners at local party events throughout the year.
Anyone interested in these activities is invited to contact Pam Green at pgreen1210@sbcglobal.net
(Above) Pam Green unloads food donated by Livingston County Democrats at the Gleaners Community Food Bank's Livingston Distribution Center on Tuesday.
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