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IOCC Volunteer Update – March 2010
“Christ commanded his disciples to give alms. To "give alms" means literally "to do" or "to make merciful deeds" or "acts of mercy." According to the Scriptures, the Lord is compassionate and merciful, longsuffering, full of mercy, faithful and true. He is the one who does merciful deeds.” — Father Thomas Hopko
March Bulletin Announcements
 IOCC Team Travels to Haiti
IOCC Senior Programs Coordinator Mark Ohanian and Fr. Antonio Perdomo, a trained emergency responder and pastor of St. George the Great Martyr Church in Pharr, Texas, arrived in Haiti the week of February 15 to consult with Orthodox Christian communities, ecumenical partners, and assess the short and long term needs of survivors of the January 12 earthquake. Nearly $1.7 million in assistance has been provided by IOCC since the earthquake. Medicines, medical equipment, water purification and sanitation equipment, tents, hygiene kits, shelter materials, fuel, food, blankets, jerry cans for water and mattresses have been shipped and distributed throughout Haiti in cooperation with ACT Alliance members, Orthodox Christian and other partners. For more information on IOCC's response to the Haiti earthquake, please visit www.iocc.org/haiti. IOCC is also preparing to respond to the 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile on February 27 and has been in contact with Orthodox Christians and ecumenical partners to monitor and respond to the emerging needs. |
 IOCC Chairman's Challenge ends March 15!
Help families escape the cycle of hunger, poverty and disease, and to rebuild their lives following conflict, emergencies, and disasters by donating to the Chairman's Challenge! Every dollar that you contribute to the Chairman's Challenge by March 15 will be matched by the IOCC Board of Directors up to a total of $250,000! With your response, we have the opportunity to raise $500,000 and change thousands of lives!
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Gulf Coast Volunteers Needed
Spaces are being filled to volunteer in the Gulf Coast! For 2010, teams will be running from 11 April through the last week of July. This year the cost is $800, which pays for your room, board and airfare. To volunteer, fill out and submit our online form at www.iocc.org/gulfcoast or contact US Program Coordinator Pascalis Papouras at ppapouras@iocc.org. Encourage your parish to take advantage of this life-changing opportunity! | |  |
Holy Land
Bassema, an IOCC staff member working in the West Bank, must often leave her home as early as 4:00 a.m. in order to negotiate the many checkpoints that she encounters on her way to the villages where IOCC is working. "I cannot say that we have broken down all the barriers that many families face here in the West Bank, but we have been able to break down some," she said, referring to IOCC's work in the Qalqilya region. Bassema's arduous journeys are indicative of the difficulties faced by hundreds of families who have been cut off from their farmlands and water sources by the West Bank Barrier. IOCC is assisting these families create house gardens and build water cisterns. Bassema's hard work is paying off and families in the region where IOCC is working can now provide up to 30% of their own food needs and meet all of their household water needs. To learn more about IOCC work in Jerusalem and the West Bank, please click here.
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MARCH VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT
Eugenie Osmun's Sunday School class
St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church
Helping the poor is a calling for Orthodox Christians especially during Great Lent. The students of Ms. Eugenie Osmun's Sunday School class of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church in Poulsbo, Washington gave money to IOCC when they learned of the devastating events in Haiti and wanted to do something to help those in need. Below, are two examples from Ms. Osmun's class that show the importance of how each dollar given to IOCC can make a life changing difference.
This Lent, please consider a gift to IOCC, as a way for effective almsgiving. Click here to make a donation.
Do you know someone who should be featured in the monthly volunteer highlight? We want to hear from you! Please contact IOCC Assistant Outreach Coordinator Megan Carniewski at mcarniewski@iocc.org or call toll-free 1-877-803-IOCC.
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UPCOMING IOCC EVENTS:
Please pray for our upcoming events and forward details on these events to friends you have in these areas!
- March 20, 2010 – New York, NY – Haiti Benefit Concert
- March 25, 2010 – San Francisco, CA – Crossing the Ocean for Children with Vladi Radmanovic
- April 9, 2010 – Buffalo, NY – Bright Friday Dinner Dance
- April 10, 2010 – Cherry Hill, NJ – Jump with J.O.Y.
- April 15, 2010 – New York, NY – After Work Social with the Cathedral Fellowship
- April 17, 2010 – Atlanta, GA – Annual 5K Walkathon
- April 17, 2010 – Denver, CO – 2nd Annual IOCC Dinner
- April 24, 2010 – Baltimore, MD – 4th Annual Orthodox Taste of Baltimore
- April 26, 2010 – Cleveland, OH – 18th Annual Banquet
- April 29, 2010 – Chicago, IL – 16th Annual Banquet
To learn about other upcoming events, visit www.iocc.org/events for further details.
Daily Prayer for IOCC Volunteers
O Heavenly King, Comforter, who grants all blessings, we thank You for Your abundant grace and mercies. Help us to be good stewards of Your treasury through the ministry of IOCC.
Help us to strip ourselves of our earthly adornment, so that the poor may be sufficiently clothed and fed. And, by so loving our neighbor, adorn us with the everlasting pearls of virtue instead.
Where there is suffering, help us to bring Your mercy. Where there is despair, Your hope;
Where there is war, allow us to present You who are the Prince of Peace;
Where there is pain, You who are the Comforter; Where there is hatred, You who are Love;
Where there is death and destruction; You who are the Resurrection and Life.
Daily guide our work in IOCC, so that we may do all things, in every place and at all times, for Your glory. Amen.
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