Rally panel reaches out to other organizations

Group seeks help for hurricane relief effort.

By: Joseph Harvie
   South Brunswick Rallies for Relief is reaching out to township organizations to help with its effort to provide relief to the residents of D’Iberville, Miss., which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
   On Monday, the relief committee met with representatives of township organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, Central New Jersey Council; township doctors, the Lions Club and several clergy members.
   South Brunswick police spokesman Detective James Ryan and Al Nardi of Rallies for Relief made a presentation outlining their October trip to the Gulf region and the devastation they saw down there. Afterward, they asked for help in continuing to assist D’Iberville.
   One suggestion was to establish a bitty basketball league, Detective Ryan said.
   "Anything that can help bring a sense of normality back to these people’s lives would be of great help," Detective Ryan said.
   Township Councilman Chris Killmurray said he would ask if South Brunswick businesses that sponsor teams for town leagues would also sponsor teams in D’Iberville.
   People in attendance were also interested in pairing up like organizations in both towns such as the Boy Scouts and the Rotary Club. Detective Ryan said he has been reaching out to contacts in D’Iberville to see what types of service organizations exist in the devastated regions.
   Detective Ryan also said a letter writing campaign could be started targeting senior citizens who have yet to tell their stories and others.
   "People say that you have to tell a story 25 times before you can begin the recovery process," Detective Ryan said.
   He said Monday’s meeting was just the beginning of the outreach portion of the Rallies for Relief campaign. Next he will make his presentation to local clergy on Nov. 20.
   Mr. Nardi said one way to help streamline the effort would be to create a Web site for Rallies for Relief. He asked anyone willing to donate their time and a domain name should contact the group.
   Detective Ryan said people interested in having him speak to their organization scan contact him at (732) 329-4000 ext. 7448.
   Anyone interested in donating money to the Rallies for Relief fund can mail checks made out to South Brunswick Township, with Rallies for Relief written in the memo section to South Brunswick Municipal Building, Katrina Relief Fund, PO Box 190 Monmouth Junction, N.J. 08852.