Teaneck Kids Help Ugandan Orphans

Susan Lesh, foreground, serves at the Third Annual Pasta Dinner.
A fundraiser for the Tororo Orphans Club in Uganda. Hosted by the Bergen County Ethical Culture Society Sunday School.

Teaneck, NJ (Feb. 28, 2009) - Uganda may be half a world away, but that was not too far for the Sunday School at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County. All of the kids – and lots of adults – raised over $1500 at a pasta dinner in Teaneck, NJ on Saturday, February 28, 2009, to help the Tororo Orphans Club, which provides a home for about 150 children who have lost their parents to AIDS.

The third annual dinner brought several Ugandan dignitaries and representatives to Teaneck for the event. Mr. Duncan Muhumuza from the Uganda Mission to the UN, helped attendees get to know more about his country, discussed the progress that has been made in dealing with the many challenges they face, and expressed his thanks for the caring and concern shown by the fundraising effort. Mr. Alon Katende, a former member Uganda National Soccer Team, spoke of how far the money raised would go in supporting the children's needs – clothing, education, health care, and a chance for a real childhood . Joe Chumann, Leader of the Bergen Ethical Culture Society, recalled his experiences when he visited the capital city, Kampala, and spoke of the courage he saw in children who often had to raise their young siblings alone.

The Sunday School children helped plan the event, and prepared the decorations and the food, which included five different kinds of pasta sauces. After enjoying the sauces they made, they all took part in activities with an African theme - mask making, mat weaving and Mancala (an African strategy game). Over 130 people attended the dinner, making it by far the most successful event so far.

Cheryl Paley, Artistic Director for the AIDS awareness group NiteStar, first brought the group to the attention of the Ethical Culture Society four years ago. She said that she has been asked how and why the Tororo Orphans' Club was chosen to receive the help, when there are so many others in need. Her simple answer was a great lesson for the Sunday School children: “Just pick someone and help them.”

Pictured from left to right; back row; Mr. Alon Katende former member Uganda National Soccer Team; Mr. Duncan Muhumuza from the Uganda Mission to the UN. front row: Joe Chuman, Leader of the Bergen County Ethical Culture Society; Dr. Muhumuza; Allison Cooke, Director or Religious Education; Evelyn Wolff, Chair of the Religious Education Committee.

Article Contributed by Eric Sandhusen & Lisa Repasky-Sandhusen
Photos provided by Gwenaël Calvez