The NT did a terrific follow up on the relief efforts for Haiti. Though this was a county wide effort, we can see that people for our town came together and helped out, giving us continued reason to be proud of our town.
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2010-02-03/Front_Page/Community_reaches_out_to_help_Haiti.htmlCommunity reaches out to help Haiti
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
State, county and local officials, along with volunteers of all ages, came together on Jan. 23 in an effort to ease the suffering of the people in Haiti whose lives were shattered by a devastating earthquake that struck the nation on Jan. 12.
Above: Jacqueline Garcia and Cente Fabiano pack supplies that will be shipped to Haiti to help in earthquake relief. Right: Freehold Borough Council President Jaye Sims tapes boxes during the Convoy of Hope for Haiti. More photos at gmnews.com.
PHOTOS BY FRANK GALIPO A corner of the Monmouth County Hall of Records parking lot in Freehold Borough was filled with boxes of items that were loaded onto the Convoy of Hope, bound for Haiti.
All manner of personal hygiene supplies were donated for shipment to a nation where the death toll from the earthquake was estimated at 200,000 people.
State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth and Mercer) said the Convoy of Hope is a charitable organization that has been in Haiti since the earthquake occurred and has been transporting items of necessity there to assist in the relief efforts.
“They [the Convoy of Hope] reached out to us since we had partnered with them for the American Recreational Military Services [ARMS] Little Soldiers project, which provides gifts for children of military personnel in Iraq at Christmas. [ARMS] asked us to coordinate an effort here,” Beck said.
Beck and her 12th District legislative colleagues Declan J. O’Scanlon Jr. and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, as well as Monmouth County Freeholder John P. Curley and Freehold Borough officials made the collection effort a success.
Jaye Sims, the president of the Borough Council in Freehold Borough, helped to pack items for the relief effort. He said he was happy to see many young people helping out.
The youths were from the St. Rose of Lima Church youth group, Freehold, and the Eisenhower Middle School in Freehold Township.
Freehold Borough Councilman George Schnurr helped to collect items in the community and delivered them to the Hall of Records parking lot.
Schnurr said the Convoy of Hope is an organization that exists to help with disaster response.
“Its current mission is to provide help for the victims of the Haitian earthquake. Since we are all each other’s brothers and sisters, sometimes we have to rise beyond what we would normally do as public officials and not just stick with Freehold Borough business. As such, I was happy to help the Convoy of Hope. There is no doubt that many families in Haiti will benefit from the donated supplies because we were able to reach them with items they so desperately need.”
Freehold Borough Board of Education President Annette Jordan stopped by the Hall of Records parking lot to lend support and to pack boxes with donated supplies. She said she wanted to be part of the community and to do something for the greater good.
Borough resident Ted Miller spent the afternoon packing and sorting items. When asked why he attended the event, Miller said he came to help.
“In the midst of this devastating disaster, you do what you can to help,” he said. “You can sit around and watch it on TV or you can get out and do something.”
Freehold Township Committeeman Anthony Ammiano came early and packed boxes and then returned to help load up the truck.
“It was very heartwarming to see so many people come out to help. It proves that in the United States all you have to do is ask for help and people respond,” he said.
A benefit breakfast and brunch to support the people of Haiti was scheduled to be held at South Gate Manor, Freehold Township, on Jan. 31. The food, space and staff were donated by owner Larry Marino, with proceeds going to the relief effort through the St. Rose Haiti Committee.
Sharon Erkman, a member of the St. Rose Haiti Committee, said the earthquake hit close to home. She explained that St. Rose of Lima “adopted” a sister parish (St. Pierre Church) in Fond Pierre, Haiti, about 10 years ago.
“The church is in the mountains (of Haiti) near the Dominican Republic and the people are very poor there,” she said.
Erkman said the St. Rose Haiti Committee and other charitable groups have raised funds to help build a new school and to help pay for the teachers’ salaries. In addition, the committee also sends the children school supplies, clothes and shoes once a year.
Erkman said any money that is donated to the St. Rose Haiti Committee for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti will most likely go to hospitals and clinics that are trying to provide care for people.
“They are out of medical supplies and are in desperate need of these supplies to help them treat patients,” she said.
Contributions may be made to St. Rose Haiti Earthquake Relief. Erkman may be contacted via email at voyager1113@ aol.com.
