Collection runs September 11th - 19th
Yes, it’s time for our annual Christmas in September Toy Collection for Haiti. This is an especially difficult year for them. You are probably aware of the awful trials the Haitian people are enduring right now. We have been informed that our Outreach to Haiti staff and buildings in Port au Prince and our parish of St. Pierre in Ganthier are essentially undamaged from the earthquake. This is a blessing; however, the whole country is facing chaos and violence due to political unrest and terrible food shortages. What little we can do by sending these toys will be a small source of joy for the kids in the midst of this turmoil.
Once again, we will be placing barrels at the entrances/exits of both St. Bernard and St. Matthew Church for people to drop off their toys anytime from September 11th thru noon on the 19th when we will be packing the toys for shipping. Anyone interested in helping with the packing is welcome to join us in the St. Matthew Church Hall on September 19th at noon. The help is very much appreciated.
As always we are looking for appropriate toys. They should be small enough to fit in the shipping barrels, they cannot require batteries (they have no way to replace them), and cannot require written instructions (they don’t read English). This also means no books in English (Amazon does sell books in Haitian Creole). Suggested toys include black dolls, toy cars and trucks, bubbles, jump ropes, art supplies, stuffed animals, blocks and other building toys, frisbees, jewelry, hair clips and bows, balls and deflated soccer balls.
We will also accept cash donations. Checks should be made out to Blessed Sacrament Parish with “Christmas in September” on the memo line. Money/checks should be dropped at either of the parish offices; please do not place them in the barrels.
For any questions, call Sue Gilbertie @ 860-371-1111, or Carol Freedman @ 860-268-0966.