Scottish American Society Donating to Local Charities

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ROYAL OAK — True to its original mission statement – To preserve and further Scottish heritage in Michigan and beyond, as well as to help organizations and individuals in need – the Scottish American Society of Michigan has been busy raising money and collecting warm clothing to donate to local charities:

• In November the group donated a large collection of new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves to the South Oakland Shelter. This is the group’s third annual SOS donation.

• In December the group donated nearly $250 to The Welcome Inn, a fun and inviting warming center at Starr Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak for the homeless.

• The group donated money to purchase wreaths and will take part in Wreaths Across America for deceased veterans on Saturday, December 15th at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak, complete with a bagpiper.

“We have two main purposes as a group,” says executive director, Franklin Dohanyos. “First, we serve as a group where people of Scottish heritage or people that just like Scottish things can meet as a group and have fun, share a meal, learn more about Scotland, hear the great Highland Pipes, and have events like a Burns Supper, Tartan Day, and a Highland Games. The second reason is to help charitable organizations and individuals in need while having all this fun. We also have a Fine Arts Scholarship named after us at Alma College, to which we donate each year. Our group keeps growing as we participate in more and more community events.”