The added strife in Haiti from food shortages and dramatically rising prices has not gone unnoticed by Haitian-American residents, community and business leaders, and politicians in Elmont, L.I., at the Nassau-Queens border. Their response is a food drive to collect canned and nonperishable goods to ship to Haiti in this time of extraordinary need.
Last week, members of the Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP), the Haitian American Family Association of Long Island, executives of the Associated Supermarket of Elmont, State Assemblyman Tom Alfano, state Senator Dean Skelos and Consul General Felix Augustin of Haiti announced the initiative.
Key support also has come from Senator Kely Bastien, president of Haiti’s Senate, increasing the optimism that the donated food will get to the needy as soon as possible.
The Haitian Student Association of Elmont Memorial High School, and Elmont Board of Education Vice President Elsy Mecklembourg-Guibert, Long Island‘s first Haitian-American elected official, are also fully behind the effort to ease the suffering in the Caribbean nation.
“This is a community-based effort that can have a real impact if everyone does their part,” said Mecklembourg-Guibert. “I am asking everyone throughout the community to get involved today, get involved now.”
“Our class couldn’t be more proud and honored to take an active role in helping collect food for the children of Haiti,” Elmont Memorial High School senior class President Ian Feurtado said. “The pictures on TV and news reports are very serious, and that‘s why we have to get involved.”
Assemblyman Alfano said, “This is a human rights disaster that must be dealt with by the UN, and caring nations must get involved with now. We can’t let another day go by without getting involved and demanding action.”
There were fears last week that hunger, coupled with the everyday strife in the western hemisphere’s poorest nation, could spark more crime and violence, and increase the number of Haitians fleeing the nation in unsafe rafts and makeshift boats. The shortages already have ignited looting, rioting and civil unrest.
“This is an outstanding show of community support for our Haitian neighbors,” said Skelos.
A cross section of Haitian community leaders - including Dr. Max Noel, Kettly Joseph, Serge Clarke, Frantz Simon, Richard DeBrosse, Magaly Polo, David Duchatellier and JoJo Allrich - also are backing the drive.
The food drive collection points in the Elmont area are the Associated Supermarket, 241-11 Linden Blvd.; Elmont Memorial H.S., 555 Ridge Road; Gotham Avenue School, 181 Gotham Ave.; Dutch Broadway School, 1880 Dutch Broadway; Clara Carlson School, 235 Belmont Boulevard; Covert Avenue School, 144 Covert Avenue OKKK Karate School, 500A Elmont Road; Dr. Max Noel, 2366 Dutch Broadway, and the Alden Terrace, 1835 Central Avenue.
In Queens, the drop-off locations are Duch Travel, 221-09 Linden Boulevard, and HAUP, 221-05 Linden Boulevard, both in Cambria Heights.
Community residents and business owners wishing to help the food drive or anyone seeking information can call Assemblyman Alfano’s office at 516-437-5577 or send e-mail to him at: alfanot@assembly.state.ny.us
Pre-Mother’s Day AIDS benefit
Members of the Caribbean-American Outreach Association - the 10-year-old organization that provides treatment, education and support for children and adults living with HIV/AIDS - will host a Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch, Award Ceremony, Comedy and Fashion Show next Sunday in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham will be the guest speaker at the benefit next Sunday at Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Avenue in Brooklyn, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The fund-raiser will feature a fashion show by Courtney Washington, Yardman Style and Celebrity Designs.
Tickets are $75. Call 718-690-3451 or 646-710-0298 for information or visit the association’s Web site, caoainc.org, and click the “Events” and “Future Events” links to buy tickets online.
Reggae awards at Apollo
The International Reggae and World Music Awards, recognizing the best entertainers in the genres, returns to the Apollo Theater in Manhattan next Sunday, May 4.
Performers and presenters for the show include Mutabaruka, Shaggy, Billy Ocean, Beenie Man, Ky-Mani Marley, Freddie McGregor, Etana, Machel Mantano, Macka Diamond, Queen Ifrika, Junior Reid, Buju Banton, Tarrus Riley, Doug E. Fresh, D’Angel, Duane Stephenson, Claudelle Clarke, Dwight Pickney and Yendi Phillips, Miss Jamaica 2007.
General admission tickets are $53, VIP Gold tickets are $99 and VIP Platinum tickets are $125. Call the Apollo box office at (212) 531-5305 or visit www.irawma.com and click the “IRAWMA” link.
This column is reprinted from the April 27 Sunday editions of The New York Daily News. If you have any items suitable for this column please e-mail them to jmccallister@nydailynews.com.
