Last week, this group of friends were making dinner plans. This week, they’re spending their nights sleeping in a makeshift bomb shelter in their basement.

Two separate United Way grants have gone to Jewish Family Services and Samaritas.

Seventeen missionaries including children were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti over the weekend. The group is comprised of 16 Americans and a Canadian. They’re with the Ohio-based organization Christian Aid Ministries. The work the missionaries are doing in Haiti is similar to humanitarian efforts by Detroit’s own Mitch Albom.

DETROIT – For years Zaman International founder and CEO, Najah Bazzy, has dedicated herself to helping women, children and refugees. The non-governmental organization has helped more than 250,000 women and children by providing basic necessities, education and job training, according to CNN. Zaman International operates out of the Hope For Humanity Center, a 40,500-square-foot facility in Inkster. Needy mothers and their children can shop at the Inkster based facility, which has become a one stop shop for basic essentials, for free. She was selected as one of 30 smiles initiative to be placed on Lay’s potato chip bags.