Seniors raise $500 for Haitian earthquake relief

Four Nassau senior centers have teamed up to raise $500 - much of it in nickels and pennies - for Haitian earthquake relief.

Over three weeks in February and March, at least 100 seniors chipped in whatever they could spare, even if it was just a few cents, said Carol Waldman, the executive director of the Glen Cove Senior Center.

"We had a big box out front, and people threw in their extra change," Waldman said. "Seniors were going table to table talking about the concerns and challenges Haiti had."

Some of the Glen Cove Senior Center's members decided to start the drive shortly after the earthquake, and set out a donation box. Three other centers - Westbury Senior Center, Herricks Senior Community Center in New Hyde Park and Doubleday Babcock Senior Center in Oyster Bay - also took part.

All four centers voted to donate the proceeds to Doctors Without Borders.

The box in Glen Cove soon started to fill with coins. Jean Quartarolo, 80, said she keeps a daily tally of how many people have lunch at the center. "I'm out front, and I see them dropping something in every day," she said. "Seniors put in whatever they could."

Gail Speranza, the executive director of the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center in Oyster Bay, said she saw donations ranging from a few cents to $30. "We're seeing more and more low-income seniors than ever before," Speranza said. "What anyone can put into a drive here, we're very grateful."

Waldman said many of Glen Cove's seniors live on fixed incomes and pinch pennies as much as they can. But those seniors also have an "increased circle of empathy," she said.

"The reality is, their eyes have seen more miracles and more tragedies than anyone," Waldman said. "The message is so important that seniors are still active in their communities."