Glen Rock January 20, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Poverty Project rallying help for Haitian people by John Koster Beth Fernandez of the Glen Rock Poverty Project was offered $1,500 in matching funds the day after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, killing tens of thousands and rendering thousands more homeless. “Last year, we got to know Haiti and its deep suffering through Project Awareness Week,” Fernandez said. “When the country was struck by three massive hurricanes, we responded by sending thousands of lifesaving mosquito nets to fight malaria. “Now, only two years after the hurricanes, the country has been devastated. Our partner organization, Partners in Health, is on the ground in Haiti again to work saving lives, but they need our help again.” Fernandez, a Realtor at the Weichert office at 229 Rock Road in Glen Rock, has asked donors to drop off checks as quickly as possible at the office, or at her home at 416 Rock Road, so aid can be rushed to the stricken Haitians and the matching funds can be claimed. “Your gift will be doubled,” she said. Funding donated to the Glen Rock Poverty Project for Haiti will support food and medical relief for the Haitians, whose country is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. The local organization’s first effort was the fiscal support of construction of a Habitat for Humanity house in Paterson. Groups of students and adults who donated $250 bought two-by-fours to be used in paneling the house, wrote their good wishes on the wood, and assembled the two-by-fours into panels at the parking lot near Glen Rock Borough Hall. The house has since been completed and is occupied by a mother of three who showed up in person to help with the construction. Students from Glen Rock High School Interact, the Hamilton School, Ridgewood High School, and the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest made significant donations to the project, and three licensed carpenters turned out to help supervise and complete the labor. The second project was to provide Play Pump wells for sub-Saharan Africa so villagers would be able to pump their own water instead of sending children to walk for hours to draw water from streams that are often polluted. Concerts and sales of gifts produced by local crafters helped fund this project. The Glen Rock Poverty Project has also worked for the mosquito net purchase for Haiti and for the funding for a school for children in Central America. Mahjong mavens Glen Rock Jewish Center recently held its first Mahjong Night of the year. Novices, onlookers, and experienced players attended, and three instructors were on hand to answer questions and facilitate games. Weekly games will be held at GRJC beginning Jan. 21 on either Wednesday or Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $5. Contact office@grjc. org for more information or visit grjc.org. (Photo courtesy of Janet Isenberg.) Want to Live a Meaningful Life? • Find out how you can change your life and live in true relationship with your Creator. • Discover how God is working in your life as we study Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God. Study led by Rev. Harvey Ouwinga Every Sunday Evening 6:00-7:00 p.m. Midland Park Christian Reformed Church 183 Godwin Ave. (next to Friendly’s) 201-445-4260 www.mpcrc.org Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 AM • Adult and Child Education 11:00 AM God’s Message for You: 201-445-8700 All are welcome. Childcare provided. Free parking. Handicapped accessible. ����������������� � ��������������� � ����������������� � ��������������������� ������������������������������������������ ����������� ������������ ������� �������� ������������� ������������� UNITED WOOD FLOORING ����������������������� ��������������� ������������ �����������������������