Building trades workers and Pointe Jewelry pitched in during the holiday season to raise $10,010 for "The House" at St. Rita, an inner-city Detroit parish that provides food and a quiet place to study after school for neighborhood young people.

Pointe Jewelry owner Daniel LaLonde, an Operating Engineers Local 324 member who is also a gemologist, donated an $8,000 14-karat ladies diamond tennis bracelet for a drawing among Detroit-area building trades workers. Hardhats snapped up the $10 tickets and raised $10,010.

"It was easy to donate the bracelet, but a lot of guys did a lot of hard work selling the tickets," LaLonde said. "We're very happy to help the good people at St. Rita."

Rev. Timothy Kane, the pastor at St. Rita, said in a letter to the Greater Detroit Building Trades Council, "Wow! This is such a tremendous boost to all our efforts here at St. Rita parish.

"As you may know, 'the House' is a neighborhood youth and family empowerment center located in the old convent of our parish. This large facility is becoming the hub of after-school activities for the at-risk youth of our parish neighborhood. Our after-school study/snack table has grown to be a big success, serving over 250 youths each week. Over 41 percent of the neighborhood youth are 'food insecure.' Your donation is going directly to providing the assistance these youngsters need in stabilizing their lives and restoring the sense of community or 'family.'

Again, thank you for your help, you are truly the 'friends we need.' "

Daniel LaLonde and wife Cynthia Thomas LaLonde own Pointe Jewelry, 20100 Mack Ave. in Grosse Pointe. Woods.

"Wow" said a grateful Rev. Tim Kane of St. Rita Parish in Detroit, accepting a $10,010 check from The Greater Detroit Building Trades Council and Pointe Jewelry. The money was raised in a bracelet drawing sponsored by Pointe Jewelry. Standing behind the check are (l-r) GDBTC Pres. John Hamilton, Sec.-Treas. Patrick Devlin, Fr. Kane, Iron Workers 25 BA Bill Sennett, who won the bracelet, and Pointe Jewelry owners Cynthia Thomas LaLonde and Daniel LaLonde. The check was handed over at a GDBTC Executive Board meeting, attended by (l-r) Operating Engineers 324 Bus. Mgr. Sam T. Hart, GDBTC Bus. Rep. Ed Coffey, and business managers Gary Young, Plumbers 98; Tommy Aloisio, Teamsters 247; Bob Chwalek, Laborers 1076; Tom Ingalls, Sheet Metal 80 Richard Egerer, Elevator Const. 36; John Marek, Boilermakers 169; Ray Chapman, BAC 1, and Lou Walczak, Cement Masons 514.