YouthNet Coffee House Raises $1,000 for Haiti Relief

With the proliferation of local fundraising efforts to help victims of Haiti's Janurary 12 earthquake, it's hard to keep track. There have been hikes for Haiti, yoga for Haiti, the South Orange PBA and many local churches are raising funds (notably, St. Joseph's raised $7,000 from its second collections at masses on January 16 and 17).

Here is yet another humble effort that produced impressive results. Columbia High School students in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy began several efforts. One was led by the student members of the YouthNet Advisory Board which is involved in organizing after-school enrichment activities for students. The YAB held its second "YouthNet Coffee House" at The Baird in South Orange on Friday, January 15, and raised $1,034 for Haiti earthquake relief. Diane Malloy, the Executive Director of YouthNet, reported, "There were over 200 CHS students that attended and contributed. It was an amazing evening."

Ian Kenselaar, CHS sophomore and YouthNet Advisory Board member, organized the music and bands for the event.

The coffee house event began before the events in Haiti and will continue monthly. Said Malloy, "We plan to have one on the third Friday of every month. Each coffee house will have a different theme. The first ones theme was respect." 

Clearly the second coffee house's theme was giving. Malloy said that the YAB coffee house will revisit Haiti fundraising at least one more time. All funds are going to Haiti through the American Red Cross.