PEI Kids Organizes Diaper Drive to Benefit Children Affected by Hurricane Sandy

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by Lawrence Township-based PEI Kids.

As a result of Hurricane Sandy, PEI Kids - a nonprofit organization serving children and families in Mercer County - has rescheduled its Seventh Annual "Tasting in Titusville" from Friday, Nov. 2, to Thursday, Nov. 29, and has organized a diaper drive for the children affected by Hurricane Sandy to be a part of the annual fundraiser.

The event will be held at the Union Firehouse, 1396 River Rd. (Route 29), Titusville (Hopewell Township), N.J., from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Individuals attending the Tasting are asked to bring diapers to donate. Diapers donated at the event will go directly to New Jersey children and families affected by the storm.

“Our first priority at PEI Kids is to keep our children safe,” said Penny Ettinger, executive director of PEI Kids. “And with the disastrous effect of this devastating storm, we knew we could make a positive impact on those children and families of New Jersey by concentrating our efforts in helping them while holding our annual fundraiser to support our work,” she added.

The Tasting event will feature 100 red and white wines, as well as food from a number of local restaurants and cake vendors. Wines will be provided courtesy of ShopRite Liquors of Pennington.

Hors d’oeuvres are generously donated by Bitter Bob’s, Café Mulino, Cairo Cakes, Cuginos Italian Specialties, El Taco Loco, El Tule Restaurant, It’s Nutt’s Restaurant, Maddalena’s Cheesecake & Catering, Palace of Asia, Patriots Crossing, Sal de Fortes Ristorante, and the Yahweh Bread Co.

Tickets are $60 per person or two for $100. All proceeds from the event will help PEI Kids expand its child-focused programs and services.

For tickets and information, call Ester Rodriguez at PEI Kids, (908)461-3581 or visit http://www.peikids.org.

About PEI Kids:

PEI Kids’ aspiration for the children of Mercer County, NJ, is “Safe Kids, Sound Futures.” Currently serving approximately 16,000 children and their families each year, the nonprofit organization began in 1985 when, while working at a rape crisis center, its founders discovered there were no local services tailored for children who had been sexually abused.

For the past 27 years, its mission has been dedicated to promoting and maintaining a safe environment for all children. Its services have expanded to include engaging, developmentally appropriate and culturally diverse Prevention/Education and Intervention programs relating to personal safety; physical and sexual abuse; understanding physical and educational differences; school safety and bullying; anger management; gang prevention; and the overall well-being of the child and family.

PEI Kids also serves as the lead agency of the Greater Mercer Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, comprising representatives from all 13 Mercer municipalities and cross disciplines including the medical community, child welfare, adult survivors of sexual abuse, law enforcement, religion and education.

To learn more about PEI Kids’ many programs and services for Mercer County children and families, and how you can support its efforts, please call (609) 695-3739 or visit http://www.peikids.org. All calls regarding possible abuse are confidential.