As the City of Detroit gears up for Angels’ Night, officials know there are some volunteers and their families who stand ready to take action at a moment’s notice. O’Dell Tate, Jim Ward, and Juanita Mitchell are just some of the incredible Detroiters that are dedicated to keeping the city safe for Angels’ Night during Halloween Week from October 29th-October 31st,
O’Dell Tate, President of Morningside Community Association and his wife have been Volunteers for Angels’ Night (formerly Devil’s Night) for nearly two decades. He leads a team of 60 volunteers to patrol the 8 mile /Livernois area to prevent arson on abandoned homes or buildings. His wife Monique mans the Call Center. His children also worked with them until they left for college. Tate dispatches volunteers up to midnight from Detroit’s Spirit of Love Missionary Baptist Church. Volunteers are members of the church, members of the Green Acres Board and some live in the neighborhoods. “We make sure there is plenty of food here for the volunteers, but they also go to White Castle.”
Mr. Tate combines his October Harvest Fest party with Angel’s Night. “This encourages Volunteers to bring their families, which means we have more eyes watching abandoned houses for Angel’s Night.”
At 75 year old Jim Ward leads a team of over 60 volunteers who patrol the Green Acre neighborhoods in the Livernois/8 mile areas. His wife is also a team member. “We love the city and so do our volunteers. We do Angels’ Night, but we also have ongoing radio patrols to prevent crime.”
Juanita Mitchell, a former restaurant owner gets joy from running the feeding program at Butzel Community Center on Kercheval and Van Dyke. At 80 years old she has no plans to stop. Her daughter Cheryl Coleman got her involved. “Each year we add more family members to the volunteer list,” she says. Her sister and daughter are Angels’ Night volunteers and she says her 3 year old grandchildren will be passing out water. “We all love coming together to do this. I’m hoping to get even more of our family to participate. This is our family’s way of giving back,” adds Coleman.
Volunteers aren’t the only ones giving out meals. White Castle restaurants will open their dining rooms to provide FREE hamburgers and beverages to thousands of Angels’ Night volunteers guarding abandoned houses and buildings in Detroit to watch for arsonists.
We feel it is important to support the city on this project,” says Mason Wolf, Regional Director of Restaurant Operations for White Castle System, Inc. The residents of the city support White Castle and it’s important for us provide the help the volunteers and the city need at this critical time.”
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing will visit White Castle on Woodward at Baltimore, Tuesday October 29th when Angels’ Night volunteers will also be picking up free meals.
White Castle System, Inc. has donated thousands of hamburgers and refreshments to Angel’s Night (formerly Devil’s Night), since the project’s inception.
To volunteer for Angels’ Night call (313) 224-3450.
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