South Philly Review

“I would watch the news every night on CNN and just cry,” Elena Brennan, owner of Bus Stop Boutique, 750 S. Fourth St., said. “I just felt helpless. I have to do something to help the unfortunate in Haiti because the relief effort is so slow. I thought collecting money would be the best.”

Brennan is holding the boutique’s first-ever warehouse sale through Sunday, selling mostly designer winter shoes for up to 75-percent off with a yet-to-be-determined portion going to the Red Cross, which has been providing medical support to about 500 people a day, in addition to purifying the country’s water and distributing it to 400,000 people each day.

The earthquake inspired her to quickly set up the effort at a vacant nearby fabric shop, at 727 S. Fourth. A donation box also will be on hand for those who wish to give more.

“I think it’s important to give back and it’s important to give to those in need right now,” she said. “With the economy and recession, a lot of people are suffering, but not like those in Haiti, who have lost everything.”

Colleen DeCesare, co-owner of Passyunk’s Black N Brew with Jennifer Kaufman, held its fundraising Jan. 16 and 17, raising about $400 for the Red Cross.

“What was going on in Haiti is awful, so we wanted to do what we could to help,” DeCesare said.

An alum of the Institute Integrative Nutrition, which teaches holistic nutrition education, DeCesare received an e-mail from her New York City-based alma mater saying for any employees or alumni who raise money for the Red Cross, the school would match the amount.

“Right away I was like, ‘OK, cool. We’re going to do something at the shop,’” she said.

The establishment at 1523 E. Passyunk Ave. donated 5 percent of its sales that weekend, plus customer donations. The total donation was $800, including the school’s portion.

“You got to do something,” she said. “Times are tough for everyone here, but c’mon, what’s going on there is totally different.”

A few blocks away, the owners of Isabella Pizza, 1824 E. Passyunk, continued their trend of helping out as they’ve done in the past through donated meals and discounts to schools.

“When I watched the news and I saw the children and the people, I thought that I had to do something,” Michal Martorano, who co-owns the shop with ex-husband Steven Martorano, said.

Isabella began accepting donations, as well as giving 5 percent of its sales to the Red Cross, Jan. 15, and will continue to do so through the weekend. Those who donate will receive a free fountain soda. The establishment had raised about $2,500 as of press time.

“I feel like we have the opportunity to give back and make a difference,” she said, adding she hopes the funds can help supply medical equipment, food and water.

To give back and make a difference almost 1,500 miles away, feels great, Michal said.

“We’re all part of the world,” she added. “Because we’re lucky, we’re all doing well. It’s just our duty to give back.”

Wake Up Yoga South at 1839 E. Passyunk will hold “A Profound Act of Love” with a variety of events Feb. 13. All profits from that day will go to Haitian relief efforts. Back in 2004 and ’05, the studio headed a similar cause when the tsunami hit countries such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India, Director Corina Benner said.

“We raised almost $5,000, which was really so phenomenal. When this started unfolding, I just really thought things are happening and are so far away,” she said. “You feel so helpless.”

She decided to offer yoga as a way to aid those in need, but was unsure where to donate the funds.

Every penny collected at all three of the studios, including its Fairmount and West Philadelphia branches, that Saturday will go to Partners in Health, which provides health care to people in countries such as Peru, Rwanda, Haiti and the United States.