By Kevin Norris
AARC is offering an opportunity for members to put our money (and our feet) where our values are. By sponsoring a team for Walk a Mile in My Shoes, we are raising funds and awareness for immigrant support projects provided by Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County. JFS has helped resettle refugees of all religious backgrounds from literally hundreds of countries. However, cuts in federal funding and divisive rhetoric have now left these neighbors vulnerable and isolated. Please join the many AARC members who are giving and walking for and with them on Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 2:00–5:00 p.m. at Burns Park Elementary in Ann Arbor. We’ve set a “chai” fundraising goal for AARC’s support of JFS, so please contribute what you can. Every dollar helps someone in need.
Walk a Mile in My Shoes 2025 is both a fundraiser and a show of personal support. Walking side by side, we affirm: we see you, we welcome you, and we will walk with you as you begin again. In this High Holy Day season, when we pledge ourselves anew to acts of tzedakah, participation is an opportunity to make our commitments tangible. Together, we can bridge the gap for those who need us most.
Funds raised will sustain Jewish Family Services’ essential work: arrival assistance and placement, health and behavioral health services, youth and women’s empowerment programs, nutrition support, job readiness, and entrepreneurial training. JFS continues walking with families long after the initial resettlement period, helping them establish stability and thrive in their new home. In addition to supporting recent immigrants, JFS provides comprehensive services to the aging in our community through its Wise programs, and the Nourish food pantry. Nourish combats hunger not only with conventional groceries and produce, but also culturally specific (e.g., halal, kosher) and medically customized (e.g., allergy friendly, gluten free, low sodium) options. In short, it’s a great organization that we can trust with our support.
That arc of the moral universe won’t bend itself. What better way to step into 5786 than by showing up for people in need? Join us, give what you can, and walk with us, and let’s begin the year with footsteps of solidarity.
Give and join the team to walk here. If you have questions, contact Kevin Norris.
