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Food For the Poor fundraiser March 9

STAFF REPORT – The organizers of the “Food For the Poor” fundraiser have set March 9 as the date, and 6 p.m. as the time and the Boca Bay Power House will be the location for their first fundraiser.

The chairmen of the island’s chapter of the group, Ben Scott and Louise Scott, along with Tom Lorden, invite everyone to attend the cocktail reception and informational presentation which will be given by Food For The Poor’s executive director, Angel Aloma.

“The response we’ve gotten from the island already is very enthusiastic,” Scott said. “We know people are looking forward to the fundraiser, so I think we’ll have quite a crowd.”

Scott and Lorden are heading a committee of approximately 12 island residents who have committed themselves to building a village in Haiti, and who had done so long before the January 12 earthquake hit.

The village, to be located in Pierre Payan, Haiti, is just two hours north of the devastated capital, Port-au-Prince. Plans include 80 concrete homes, a water treatment facility, a community center and a vocational school.

The Boca Grande Friendship Village will provide approximately 240 people with safe housing, agriculture, including 500 avocado, mango and citrus trees, animal husbandry and a community chicken farm, a community center and a solar charging system for electricity throughout the village.

The Scotts and Lorden formed a preliminary committee with neighbors from Boca Grande just a few months ago. Ben’s good friend, Tom Lorden, co-chaired a committee in Illinois where locals banded together to build the Rockford Friendship Village in Prolonge, Haiti.

After the earthquake, Food For The Poor, which has been in Haiti for more than 24 years, immediately responded by sending more than 1,200 tons of emergency relief (water, food, medical supplies and tents) to the country.

To date, the organization has sent more than 3,100 tons of relief.

Scott said he and his wife were appalled to realize that the area, already poverty-stricken, suffered catastrophic damage on January 12.

“When we first learned about Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, my wife, Louise, and I thought of different ways we could make a difference for the children, and for families in that country,” he said. “We decided the best way was to get our entire community involved. We have very generous people living on this island, and their hearts are in the right place.”

The Boca Grande Friendship Village chairmen are Ben and Louise Scott, and the committee members are Rev. Jerome Carosella, George and Lois Castrucci, Patricia Chapman, Ray and Iliene Corcoran, Charley and Florita Field, Jack and Donna Harms, Stephen and Susan Jensen, Tom and Nancy Lorden, Ed and Nora Lee Reefe, Vince and Judy Shaw, Bruce and Barbara Stirling, and David and Mary Jo Wilson.

Scott said they will be announcing their “lead” donations at the fundraiser.

For more information about the event, and to RSVP contact Kathy Leggatt at (954) 427-2222, ext. 6646 or visit foodforthepoor.org/bocagrande.