Hayes 6 starting to draw community’s support
Businesses, residents rally to help out Marlboro sextuplets
BY LARRY RAMER
Staff Writer

Three businesses and a church have pitched in to help a Marlboro couple, which recently welcomed sextuplets into the world. In recent weeks, representatives of Penn Federal Savings Bank in Marlboro, TGI Friday’s in Marlboro, and ShopRite in Aberdeen, have donated products to Eric and Elizabeth Hayes.

Elizabeth gave birth to sextuplets in September. The couple has 10 children, including 6-year-old twins and 8-year-old twins. Eric Hayes is an officer in the Marlboro Police Department.

St. Gabriel’s Church in Marlboro is collecting diapers for the family.

The Hayes 6, as the babies are known, are Tara Rose, Rachel Ann, Rebecca Mary, Ryan Peter, Connor James and Eric John Jr.

Penn Federal gave the Hayes family baby products and monetary gifts, branch manager Linda Schaefer said.

“We gave the family a big gift basket filled with all kinds of things for babies, including blankets and bottles,” Schaefer said. “We also donated a $200 savings bond for each child.”

The bank wanted to participate in the community’s efforts on behalf of the Hayes family, Schaefer explained.

“Penn Federal is well-known for its community involvement. We wanted to be part of celebrating this kind of excitement in the town,” she said.

TGI Friday’s donated 20 percent of a night’s profits to the Hayes family. The restaurant raised more than $1,000 for the family, according to general manager Greg Metz.

“Since Officer Hayes is a local police officer who works in our community, we felt compelled to see what we could do. We wanted to extend help to one of our local police officers,” Metz said. “I can’t imagine having six babies at once, with four children already.”

ShopRite donated a number of products to the family, including diapers, bottles, baby soap, shampoo and detergent, according to Alberto Canal, a spokesman for the supermarket. The supermarket donated gift certificates for a six-month supply of diapers, valued at $2,500, to the Hayes family, according to a ShopRite press release.

“We reached out and found out what the family needed. We provided the amenities you need for one baby, let alone six,” Canal said.

The supermarket also donated books and toys to the Hayes twins, Canal said.

Asked what motivated ShopRite to donate the products, Canal answered, “We believe we’re a neighborhood store and consider ourselves part of the neighborhood. Many neighbors are helping the Hayes family.”

The religious education office of St. Gabriel’s Church, Route 79, has begun collecting diapers for the babies. People who would like to drop off diapers at the church can do so from Tuesday to Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The sextuplets need diapers in sizes 3, 4 and 5, according to Esther Hogan, a Marlboro resident who is collecting the diapers dropped off at the church.

Hogan estimated that people dropped off about 1,000 diapers in the first two weeks that St. Gabriel’s collected diapers for the sextuplets.

Marlboro resident Annette Sherman spearheaded a diaper drive for the babies over the last few months. About 5,000 diapers have been donated so far, she estimated. People who want to donate diapers or wipes can drop them off at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center, Wyncrest Road, Sherman added.

Meanwhile, Oasis Auto Center of Old Bridge will host a charity auction for the Hayes family on Dec. 3, according to a press release. The proceeds from the auction will be used to help the Hayes family purchase a 15-passenger club wagon.

The auction will include a range of sports memorabilia, collectibles and tickets, including baseballs signed by Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra; courtside tickets to New York Knicks games; luxury box tickets to Jets, Giants, Mets and Yankees games; and a 2005 Super Bowl package. All are welcome to attend.

The auction preview is scheduled to kick off at the Subaru showroom, 3698 Route 9 south, Old Bridge, on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. More information about the event is available at www.oasisautocenter.com.

Eric Hayes said he is pleased with the donations and the efforts people are making on his family’s behalf.

“It’s nice that these good people have helped us out a lot,” he said.

He said all six babies are doing well.

“They’re gaining weight. They’ve doubled their weight since they were born and they weigh between 10 and 12 pounds now,” he said.

Asked if it is difficult to care for sextuplets, Hayes said, “It’s definitely a challenge. Some days are harder than others. We’re busy seven days a week, 24 hours a day.”

Hogan said she believes the Hayes family is “lucky and blessed.”

“I wouldn’t mind having sextuplets,” said Hogan, who has four children. “It’s a miracle to have 10 happy, healthy children. The older children are very supportive and they’re happy they have six babies to play with. The family will do fine as long as the community is supportive of them.”