Surrounded by over 70 members of the Elmont Haitian community and a backdrop of the American and Haitian Flag, Assemblyman Tom Alfano, State Senator Dean Skelos, Father Eddie Julien and Haiti Consul General Felix Augustin kicked-off a food drive with Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP), Haitian American Family Association of Long Island, local schools and businesses to address the starvation crisis of children in Haiti.

The crisis has caught national attention which Assemblyman Tom Alfano has called “a social justice and human rights tragedy that must be addressed.” The press conference was held in Elmont in front of Haitian owned business Big and Tall Clothing. During the conference, Alfano pointed to very poignant photos of children starving in Haiti during the current food crisis. It was those very photos that moved hundreds in Elmont to start the food drive under the direction of Alfano, Skelos, HAUP and HAFALI. “When you look at these photos you know clearly we have to do something. This is about saving children; it’s as simple as that,” Alfano said.

Father Eddie Julien of St. Boniface Church said a prayer for the children of Haiti who have suffered from the food crisis. As he recited the prayer, he called for the success of the food drive to help the children who are suffering under intolerable conditions.

In the words of the famous jazz musician, Louis Armstrong “We all do 'do, re, mi,' but you have got to find the other notes yourself.”

The near capacity audience at the Elmont Memorial Library Theater listens as Allyson Phillips, Chairperson of the EoL Black History Month Committee, delivered her opening remarks.

To be here, at this, the fifth Annual Black History Month Celebration is inspiring and encouraging. Thank you Aubrey, you continue to inspire and motivate us.

You, our audience, were open to a different point of view and embraced this celebration as a community. Please give yourselves a round of applause, because together, I believe we are finding the other notes.

It is my privilege to chair the 2008 Black History Month Committee. From this vantage point, I know first hand the hard work, the countless phone calls, the last minute OOPS, and so on.