SOUTH RIVER — A local parish is spreading a little cheer and hope for a parish an ocean away.
Earlier this month, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Leonardine Avenue, held a Holy Eucharist and cultural thanksgiving service to aid its sister parish in Sierra Leone, South Africa.
According to the Rev. Joe Patronik, the Sierra Leone parish, also named Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, was destroyed earlier this year after a fire was started during civil war in that country.
The parish was used not only for church purposes but also as a school and community center.
Located in the middle of the war-torn country, it needs several hundred thousand dollars to rebuild.
Hearing of the news and knowing several parishioners who are from Sierra Leone, Patronik said the church decided to hold the fund-raiser service.
This year alone the church raised approximately $3,000 toward renovation of the Sierra Leone church, Patronik said.
With every function that the church holds, Patronik said, the church has pledged 10 percent of the proceeds toward the Sierra Leone rebuilding fund.
In addition, the National Episcopal Organization Grant from the Presiding Bishop Fund for World Relief donated $35,000 toward the renovation, Patronik said.
Patronik also said the church has begun a pen-pal program, wherein borough youths will be corresponding with youngsters from Sierra Leone.
"This is not a one-way street," said Patronik. "We need to learn more about others in other countries."
For further information regarding donations to the Sierra Leone parish, contact the church at (732) 254-1734.

