Haitian relief effort exhibits generosity within East Orange

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
After two days of collecting donations from residents throughout East Orange, city officials said they had collected quite a haul for the people of Haiti.
During the weekend of March 6-7, the doors of City Hall were open to anyone who wanted to make a donation to the earthquake-ravaged nation. Tables outside the building were manned by volunteers from the city as well as individuals and organizations from throughout Essex County.
Everyone was there, officials said, because they wanted to do something to help the Haitians whom they thought of as their “brothers and sisters.”
The citywide relief collection was organized by 4th Ward Councilwoman Sharon Fields and 3rd Ward Councilman Ted Green with support from Mayor Robert Bowser and the other elected officials and city employees.
“When we opened the building, it was run entirely by volunteers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., which meant that there was no expense to taxpayers for it,” a city spokesperson said. “Over the course of the weekend, we collected $4,500 as well as 100 cases of water, one large 12-person tent, four small tents, 20 boxes of food, 20 boxes of medical supplies, over 30 boxes of toiletries, 10 boxes of flashlights, camping supplies and batteries, 12 pairs of crutches, six walkers, 12 canes, two wheelchairs, 20 cases of disposable diapers, numerous boxes of clothing and shoes and one oxygen concentrator.
“Some of the items donated came from three local schools: Fourth Avenue School, Gordon Parks Academy and the Cicely Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts.”
All of the items were transported through the city’s Office of Emergency Management, city officials said. In addition, the officials said that more than $2,000 in monetary donations were collected from city staff through the Haiti Relief Fund. All the items collected were taken to the Yele Haiti Foundation in South Orange. From there they will be packaged and shipped to Haiti as soon as possible for distribution where they can do the greatest good.
One city official said a reverse 9-1-1 announcement was sent to all residents to encourage support for the donation marathon.
News reports have shown many Haitian residents, especially those in the capital, Port-au-Prince, struggling to survive since their island nation was struck by an earthquake which measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale in January.
Two months later, as the start of the island’s rainy season looms, the concern for the population was evident in East Orange.

Read more in this week's East Orange Record, Click Here to SUBSCRIBE TODAY