AMESBURY — A group of eight Quakers plans to travel to Cuba in March to help build a church community center and to connect with Cuban Quakers.
To do so, the group, sponsored by the Amesbury Friends Meeting, is raising money through a fundraiser Saturday at 7 p.m. The Cuban Three Kings Festival will feature Cuban food, music, dancing and a silent auction.
Jeanne Smith, one of the event's organizers, said the fundraiser is named after the festival that normally happens on Jan. 6 in South American countries to celebrate the day the wise men were supposed to have arrived in Bethlehem.
"We're having lots of different kinds of Cuban food; we have a DJ playing Cuban music, dancing, a slide show about a prior trip that people have taken, and silent auction with about 25 items," Sam Baily, one of the members, said.
Auction items include jewelry, a toy basket, Ovedia chocolate, and gift certificates to Powow Grill, Plum Island Grill, Mad Martha's Cafe, furniture restoration, an African dinner for six and a home-cooked dinner.
The Amesbury Quakers will take the trip to build a relationship with their newly established sister Quaker Meeting, Vista Alegra.
"At the New England Yearly Meeting, which is a combination of all Quaker meetings in New England, Cuban Meeting members came to visit, and we hosted them at one of our meetings," Baily said.
The group traveling from Amesbury ranges in age from 17 to 74, and consists of Annie Tunstall and her husband Richard Gale, and Jeanne Smith, 60, and her son Owen, 26. Three Newburyport residents, Sam Baily, 72, Martha McManamy and son, Evan McManamy, 17, will also go on the trip, March 14 to 28.
Funds raised will be used to enable Cuban Quakers to purchase building materials and supplies that are much needed. Cuban churches were ravaged by the three hurricanes this summer, and these small religious communities are continuing to try to repair the damage.
The trip, which took months to coordinate, has been approved by the U.S. government.
"You have to go through a lot of steps to get approved to go to Cuba, including getting licenses and visas by both governments," Smith said. "The trips are organized by a larger group within New England Quakers, called Puente de Amigos, or Bridge of Friendship, which supports Friends in Cuba."
"The New England Yearly Meeting was in contact with the government for the trip, which was approved because we were a religious organization," Baily said. "It's an attempt at cross-cultural communication and understanding where there hasn't been any for so long."
"We don't hear very much about Cuba and what's going on there. There was a real lot of damage there after the three hurricanes this summer. We feel it's particularly important to go now because of that," Smith said. "They have been feeling pretty isolated because they don't have connection with a lot of the world, and we want to give them support."
If you go:
What: Cuban Three Kings Festival
When: Saturday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.
Where: Friends Meeting House, 120 Friend St., Amesbury
Cost: A donation of $10 per person or $20 per family is suggested. To make a donation, send a check payable to Amesbury Friends Meeting, Friends Meeting House, 120 Friend St., Amesbury, MA 01913. Write "Cuba" on the memo line.
For more information, call Jeanne Smith at 978-388-3293
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
