Students at Scarsdale’s Quaker Ridge School Launch Effort to Help Haitian Orphans

Quaker Ridge School fourth grade students Claire Scarcella and Haley Matusz are spearheading an effort to help orphans in Haiti, according to principal Robyn Lane.

Claire started the initiative and enlisted Haley in organizing their classmates to make Rainbow Loom bracelets and collect toiletries to send to the children. The two even created a short movie that they will show their schoolmates Friday where they discuss the effort.

On Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving Week, the school will allow students who want to participate in the effort to make the bracelets during recess, and Lane sent an email to families describing the initiative and requesting small toiletries.

The effort is a personal one for Claire because her aunt is in the process of adopting twin boys from Haiti. The country is still dealing with the effects of the devastating earthquake from a couple of years ago, and the boys’ parents are no longer able to care for them, according to Lane.

“As in many countries, poverty is rampant and natural disasters destroy the little security people have,” wrote Lane in the email. “So, Claire had an idea.”

A large box has been set up at the school where people can put the toiletries, and Claire’s mother will transport the items to a facility in New Jersey where they will be sent to Haiti.

The requested items are:

• Regular bars of soap

• Shampoo