Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 25, 2011 Ridgewood Local volunteers recently traveled to Haiti to distribute items from the Ridgewood YMCA’s 2010 Clothing Drive. The drive, organized in partnership with the Wells Mountain Foundation, was undertaken in February 2010, a month after the earthquake that devastated the country. Over 7,000 boxes of clothing and shoes were donated and shipped, including over 100,000 pairs of jeans. Many of the jeans were donated by Aeropostale through its Jeans for Teens Program. The donated items were shipped in 12, 40-foot containers that will stay in Haiti and be retrofitted with doors and windows and turned into schools. Ridgewood YMCA CEO Rick Claydon, who made the journey to Haiti, said two containers were also completely transformed into a new YMCA building. “The new YMCA is perched near the top of a mountain with a stunning panoramic view, and will provide adult literacy classes, a youth soccer program, a library and other social services for the community of Laboule,” Claydon reported. Although the containers were shipped in May of 2010 and arrived in The Dominican Republic in June 2010, it took several more months for the containers to be cleared through customs and transported to Port au Prince to be emptied. A team of 17 volunteers from New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and Ohio traveled to Haiti to distribute the clothes and retrofit the containers. Clothing was distributed to over 1,200 men, women, and children during the weeklong visit and YMCA d’Haiti staff will continue the clothing distributions around the country. YMCA Clothing Drive donations delivered to Haiti “With the quantities collected, our partners have enough clothes to continue distribution for a year or more. We also left them with the tools, materials and newly acquired skills to continue to convert the remaining containers and create new centers of hope throughout the still recovering country,” added Tom Wells of the Wells Mountain Foundation. The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,687 Ys engage 21 million men, women, and children – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to support others. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. Still needing a roof, a few doors and some walls, the new YMCA of Laboule under construction. Local residents line up for one of three clothing distributions in the Port au Prince area. EST. 1980 Monday - Thursday May, 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th NIVERSAR st AN Y 31 Continues Anniversary 31st Any Pasta Dish on the Menu PICK-UP ONLY • ABSOLUTELY NO SUBSTITUTIONS 14 W. PROSPECT STREET, WALDWICK, NJ 07463 FROM 11:00am - 10:00pm • LIMIT 5 PER CUSTOMER 50 off % TEL: (201) 445-2860 w w w. n a t a l e s p i z z e r i a . c o m PASTA   at...    207 Wyckoff Avenue, Waldwick, NJ 07463 201-445-0400  NURSERY • GREENHOUSE • GARDEN CENTER LANDSCAPE DESIGNER & CONTRACTOR  Memorial Day Savings Hanging Baskets, Vegetables & Flowers  Perennials, Flowering Trees & Shrubs Top Soil • Herbs • Seed • Penn Mulch  �����������������������������������������  Win a $500.00 Gift Card  www.waldwickgardens.com Knock Out All Annual  Roses & Vegetable Geranium Planters Flats  $24.98 $13.99 $26.99  Come See Waldwick Gardens Free Entry Into Our Raffle To Win a $500.00 Gift Card • Drawing 5-31-11 W/Coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 5/31/11 Waldwick Gardens Beautiful 12” On Sale For While Supplies Last Waldwick Gardens On Sale For 3 Gal. • Reg. $32.98 3 for $36.00 Waldwick Gardens 3 for $70.00 While Supplies Last Waldwick Gardens W/Coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers. W/Coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers. W/Coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers.