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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Help is on the way

Needy families 'adopted' by Ypsilanti police officers

By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: January 3, 2008

Photos by Dustin Wenzel YPD Officer Jill Kulhanek is joined by VSC member Ian Andrews, Imeree Young, Ruth Ford and Sgt. Amy Walker before setting off on their shopping junket. Purchase a copy of this photo

Five needy Ypsilanti area families have found friends in the Ypsilanti Police Department, which helped them find food clothing and gifts during this season of giving through its Adopt-a-Family program.

Officers from the police department, the Michigan State Police and the Volunteer Services Corps met with representatives of four of the families at the local Wal-Mart store to do Christmas shopping. The fifth family was unable to attend, but Lt. Craig Annas, who headed the project, assured that it, too would receive the funds intended for it.

The giving was funded by a $1,500 grant from WalMart that paid for gift cards for the families. The grant proposal was submitted by the Friends of the Ypsilanti Police Department. In all, 24 children and five adults benefited from being adopted by the department.

In addition, the Ypsilanti High School Chamber Singers donated $1,000 that went to Meijer gift cards so the families can buy food for the holidays. Local resident Carolyn McKeever donated a $50 gift card after walking by the assembling group and realizing what was taking place.

This is the sixth year the department has given back to the community in this way.

"By adopting needy families, we're trying to make an impact on the lives of people who are struggling to make good here," Annas said. "They're trying hard, but circumstances have made it difficult, so we're just trying to lend them a hand."

The families were recommended by schools and social service agencies, as well as the office of State Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith.

Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.