The Russellville community is lending a helping hand to the Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

One organization, the Wesley Foundation, is collecting health kits to help take care of immediate health needs.  The “Health Kits for Haiti” campaign requests the following items be placed in a one-gallon plastic zip lock bag.

* 1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”. No kitchen towels.

* 1 washcloth

* 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)

* 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

* 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)

* 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)

* 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

* $1.00 to purchase toothpaste

The kits will be shipped off once boxes are full, said Wesley Foundation Director, Jason Molitor.

“We started for a week and a half now, and 25-30 kits have been together already,” he said.  “If anyone is unsure of what to bring, we also take monetary donations. It costs $10-$12 to put a kit together. So, we buy the supplies from the donations. It is extremely important anytime there is a great need for help that we are there. This is a practical way to help fight infections and diseases as we provide items like soaps and Band-Aids.”

The health kits may be dropped off at the Wesley Foundation or any United Methodist church. Anyone interested in being involved in this cause can stop by the Wesley Foundation for more information.

Another campaign, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., are hosting the Miss Black and Gold beauty pageant.  Ten percent of the proceeds will go to the American Red Cross to help aid those in Haiti. 

The pageant is tonight at 8:45 p.m. at the Witherspoon auditorium.