West Essex Ministerial Association Collects for Haiti

The West Essex Ministerial Association will hold an Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope for the people of Haiti on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church located at 359 Central Avenue in North Caldwell. All are invited to the service to pray for the people of Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, who have suffered so much as a result of this disaster. 

The estimates from governmental and relief agencies estimate are that more than three million people have been displaced from their homes by the earthquake. The association invites the West Essex communities to share in an effort to collect Health Kits, which will be shipped to Haiti in the second wave of supplies to meet the needs of the displaced Haitians.

If interested in helping assemble health kits for Haiti, please place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag:

1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", no kitchen towels)

1 washcloth

1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)

1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)

1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)

6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages (like Band-Aids)

$1 to help cover shipping costs.  (Please include, but not in the health kit.)

Large supplies of any of these items can also be delivered to the drop off locations.

Important Kit Assembly Information

All items included in kits must be NEW items. 

All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.

Please do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

Contributions can be dropped off at the Caldwell United Methodist Church (8 Academy Road, Caldwell, 973-226-4410) or at Notre Dame R.C. Church (359 Central Avenue, North Caldwell, 973-226-0979).

Donations to defray shipping expenses are also needed. The association consists of the Caldwell United Methodist Church, Congregation Agudath Israel, First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, Roseland United Methodist Church, Roseland Presbyterian Church, St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Crane's Mill and Caldwell College.

The association serves the communities of Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Roseland, Fairfield, Essex Fells and beyond.