Haitian Relief Fund Letter
(Click here to download the letter and download additional information concerning how to assist.)
January 15, 2010
Dear National Board Members, Chapter Presidents and Members
of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos
Society,
It is with great sadness we learned of the loss of human life and devastating
destruction following the earthquake of magnitude 7.0 that hit Haiti on January
12, 2010.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios issued an encyclical calling upon the
faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to pray for the safety,
health and well-being of all the people of Haiti and said "our thoughts
and prayers are now with the people of Haiti".
His Eminence called upon all parishes "to conduct a special collection on
Sunday, January 17 as a response of compassion to the needs of the people of
Haiti". Please actively participate in the request of His Eminence.
Resulting from continuous Chapter fundraising efforts, the National
Philoptochos Society was financially empowered to immediately respond with aid
in the amount of $20,000 from the National Philoptochos Society's National
Emergency Fund. This
donation to IOCC, which is working in partnership with the
Norwegian Church, will assist to
meet the urgent need for safe drinking water and shelter. Water purification equipment that
will serve 10,000 people and 500 family tents, as well as other supplies, are
being airlifted to Haiti. The aid, valued at more than
$600,000, is expected to reach Port-au-Prince by Saturday, January
16.
IOCC is coordinating its response with the international
ecumenical alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT), and Orthodox partners
on the ground to address the urgent humanitarian need for emergency supplies
such as food, safe water, hygiene supplies, and shelter. Efforts by IOCC
staff are ongoing to monitor needs as they emerge and coordinate shipments of
aid through the alliance. IOCC encourages the assemblage of hygiene kits and
emergency clean-up buckets that will be shipped to Haiti. Information on the kits and buckets is
included with this letter.
Much will be required in Haiti, home to two Greek Orthodox Churches. The
tragedy is great and the suffering is widespread. Please open your hearts and
offer full support to this endeavor by sending your Philoptochos Chapter
contribution to the National Philoptochos Society marked for the National
Philoptochos Haiti Disaster Relief Fund at 7 West 55 Street, NY, NY 10019. You may choose to donate
through your Chapter's treasury or through a targeted appeal. No dollar amount is too small.
The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society is dedicated to assisting
persons in need. It is our mission to offer kind acts and demonstrate our will
to faithfully serve.
In Christ,
Aphrodite Skeadas