Haiti Dinner & Reggae Band Night

Has Taken On Larger Scope Following Recent Earthquake

By Shannon Hicks

The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 has left thousands in need, and Newtown residents have already responded with donations of everything from money to hands-on help. (See related stories about Trinity Church and Brett McEvoy in this week’s Newtown Bee.)

Newtown Congregational Church is hosting a Haitian Dinner & Reggae Band Night, Saturday, January 23, an event that had been in the planning for a number of weeks. The Gathering, the church’s youth group, organized the evening that, with the Rotary Club of Newtown, was intended to raise funds to purchase goats and provide housing for families in Haiti. Organizers hope that more people will respond to this event in light of the Port-au-Prince earthquake disaster.

From 6 to 10 pm, the public is invited to enjoy live music and refreshments at the church, at 14 West Street. Admission is $10, or $30 per family.

The Skanktones will be performing the music for Reggae Night, performing the original music that has been building a following for the Danbury-based band since 2000. In addition to music from two CDs that have already been released, attendees can expect to hear new music that will be included on The Skanktones’s upcoming release, Room To Breathe.

“The Skanktones are looking forward to this weekend’s event. It feels good to be able to help in this capacity,” percussionist Carlos Diaz said this week.

Music will begin around 8 pm, after dinner has been served.

“We’ll have Haitian- and Caribbean-themed foods for dinner,” said Linda Whippie, one of the event organizers.

“Get out your tie-dyed T-shirts,” she encouraged. “It’s meant to be a summer party in winter.”

Newtown Rotary Club’s Rotary Haitian Fund is a special collection that has been in use for years.

“We have had a partnership with Haitian Health Foundation for years. I’ve been in the club more than ten years, and it’s been at least that long, maybe longer,” Newtown Rotary President Bill Calderara said this week.

Located in Jérémie, Haiti, in the western end of Haiti — where people depend on subsistence farming, charcoal production, and other menial jobs for their livelihood and the average income is just $90 to $300 (US) per year — HHF’s mission is improve the health and well-being of the poor, sick, and the infirm of the greater Jérémie area, with a focus on women and children. Newtown Rotary has used its Haitian Fund to help HHF build housing, get basic amenities into the region, and even build a medical clinic.

“We can give [HHF] $750 and they can build a house with that,” said Mr Calderara.

“We have confirmed that the medical clinic we helped build was heavily damaged in [last week’s] earthquake, but it’s still operable,” he continued. “They’re out of supplies, however.”

It is to this fund that proceeds from Newtown Congregational Church’s Haitian Dinner & Reggae Band Night will be added.

Reservations are not needed for Saturday night, but additional information is available from the church office; call 203-426-9024.

Additional Fundraising

Newtown Rotary has been conducting a raffle that concludes this weekend, and a Mr Calderara said this week that a “significant amount” of the proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets will be going into the club’s Haiti Fund.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from any Rotary member, and can also be purchased at Newtown Savings Bank (ask for Mr Calderara or fellow Rotary member Brian Amey); Black Swan Home Hearth & Gift, 182 Main Street South; and Newtown Florist, at 111 Main Street South. Hurry though, the drawing is Sunday, January 24.

First prize is a 46-inch Sony flat screen TV with a Blu-ray surround sound system.

“The drawing for this raffle will be Sunday afternoon during one of the [NFL] playoff games, and the winner will have their new TV in time for the Super Bowl,” promised Mr Calderara.

Second prize is a $500 Visa gift card, third is a Nintendo Wii console, fourth is a $100 Exxon Mobil gift card, and fifth prize is a $50 Exxon Mobil gift card.

Additionally, the club was issued a challenge last week when one of its members anonymously promised a donation of $1,000 for the club’s Haitian Fund if club members could come up with at least $500. Tuesday afternoon, Mr Calderara reported that the club had collected $700 in donations during its meeting the previous evening, and “additional checks have also been promised.”

The club is also accepting donations from those who would like to contribute directly to its Haiti Fund. This can be done on Saturday during the NCC Haitian Dinner event and through any Rotary member. Contact Mr Calderara at 203-426-4440, extension 3259, or 203-470-7269 for details.