The effects of the devastating April earthquakes in Nepal reached far beyond Nepal's borders, even into Hudson County where a small but vibrant Nepalese community is working to send aid back to their homeland.

The Secaucus-based Hygiene Project and the Secaucus Nepalese community are hosting a cultural event Sunday, May 31, to raise funds to be used for hygiene kits and other supplies desperately needed in hard-to-reach areas of Nepal.

Many of the several dozen Nepalese people living in Secaucus emigrated from the Solu Khumbu region, and funds raised will be used for supplies for that hard-hit area of the Himalayas.

When the earthquake hit, Dorjee Sherpa and his wife, Angmaya, couldn't reach any of their friends or relatives back home. After a few days of no contact, Angmaya finally found out how her parents were doing through an unlikely medium - Facebook. Friends and relatives had posted pictures and messages letting outsiders know they were safe.

However, Angmaya's parents, fearful of more quakes or aftershocks, now sleep in a tent next to their home.

"A lot of people didn't know the true impact of the earthquake until they saw pictures and images online," Cathy Wolf, chief operating officer of the Hygiene Project, said.

Dorjee and Angmaya knew of the Hygiene Project because their sons had been volunteers with the organization. They contacted Wolf and became involved in the relief effort.

The group has already shipped a large amount of supplies to the remote village of Nuwakot - reachable only by helicopter. Angmaya's brother, who works for an airline, was able to negotiate a reduced rate for the helicopter so supplies would reach the village. They shipped 43 tents, hygiene kits and food such as rice and lentils.

"It makes me very happy, knowing we are doing something good for our community," Dorjee said.

They hope to raise $5,000 at Sunday's event, which is from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Meditation Garden at the Secaucus Recreation Center, 1200 Koelle Blvd. Tickets are $20; $15 for seniors or students.

The event will spotlight the culture of Nepal.

Nepalese musicians Shyam Nepali, Suresh Pradhan and Pramod Upadhyay will perform, and a buffet dinner will feature a variety of ethnic foods - both donated food from local restaurants and homemade food from the Nepalese community.

Volunteers will also be assembling hygiene kits at the event. In addition to monetary donations, personal hygiene supplies are also needed. Event attendees can bring items such as Band Aids, pain relievers, Q-tips, cotton balls, blankets, tarps, ponchos and water purification tablets.

"The mayor has given us tremendous support," Wolf said. "The whole town is really helping us.

"We want to get the whole community involved,'' she added, "to reach our goal."