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