Hope for Haiti — Cook County style!
Submitted by Mary Ellen Ashcroft
On Monday, Feb. 15, from 6-10 p.m., you are invited to have fun for a great cause — Haiti relief.
A number of musicians including Bump Blomberg, Eric Frost, The
Pincushion Warblers,
and The Cascade
Mountain Syrup Lickers
are donating their time and talents for this evening at the North House Folk School. Food will be provided by the community, as each person/family brings a dish to share. The event is sponsored by Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal.
The idea began small, when a few people were talking about the clothes we have tucked away — the dress for a daughter (or son’s) wedding, the bridesmaid’s outfit, the tux, the prom dress, the semi formal. We seldom get a chance to wear such clothes in Cook County. What fun to have an evening when people dig those out and wear them, along with mukluks of course!
Then the Haiti disaster happened, and we decided to combine the need for a winter “pick me up” with the desire in our community to come together and raise funds for people in terrible need.
Money from a free will offering will be sent to two organizations: Habitat for Humanity, which is mobilizing for hundreds of modest homes to be built for those rendered homeless by the quake, and the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. Haiti has few government hospitals and schools, so churches (particularly those that are part of international denominations) fund and run them.
St. Vincent’s, Haiti’s only school and clinic for disabled children, was developed and supported by the Episcopal Church—and completely destroyed in the quake. St. Vincent’s was also Haiti’s only source for children’s prosthetic limbs—which will be needed now more than ever. The donations will be split — half to Habitat for Humanity and half to Episcopal Relief and Development.
This is a great family event: kids are welcome (dressed up to the nines!) and they may want to figure out their own ways to earn some money to contribute.
So put on your fancy clothes (and your mukluks), cook up a dish to share, stuff your pockets with dollars, and come on down to the folk school.
For more information, contact Mary Ellen Ashcroft at (218) 387-1536.
