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IOCC Volunteer Update – May 2009
“Let us rejoice in the replenishment of the poor, whom our bounty has satisfied. Let us delight in the clothing of those whose nakedness we have covered with needful raiment. Let our humaneness be felt by the sick in their illnesses, by the weakly in their infirmities, by the exiles in their hardships, by the orphans in their destitution, and by solitary widows in their sadness: in the helping of whom there is no one that cannot carry out some amount of benevolence.” — St. Leo the Great
Christ is Risen! Christos Anesti!
Hristos a Inviat! Hristos Voskrese!
Al Maseeh Qam! Kriste Agksdga!
Christos Tenasa! Christo ha Resucitado!
Happy National Volunteer Week! Thank you for volunteering on behalf of IOCC. With your help our Metropolitan Committees raised almost $640,000 in 2008. The following cities had at least one event over the past 12 months to raise support and awareness for IOCC:
Akron ~ Atlanta ~ Baltimore ~ Camp Hill ~ Charlotte ~ Chicago ~ Cleveland ~ Dallas ~ Detroit ~ Denver ~ Grand Rapids ~ Houston ~ Long Island ~ Los Angeles ~ Minneapolis ~ Mobile ~ New York ~ Oklahoma City ~ Orange County ~ Perth Amboy ~ Phoenix ~ Pittsburgh ~ Portland ~ Reading ~ San Francisco ~ Seattle ~ St. Louis ~ Steelton ~ Syracuse ~ Virginia Beach ~ Washington D.C. ~ Weirton
With your help IOCC is providing food, shelter, economic self-sufficiency and hope to people in 25 countries this year. Because we have a small staff, we depend on each of you to act as mustard seeds throughout the nation keeping your parishes, friends and family informed on the great work that IOCC accomplishes. Thank you for dedicating your time, talent and treasure to IOCC. I am excited to increase our parish representation this year. It is our goal to make IOCC a household name in every Orthodox Christian home over the next few years by having a parish representative in every Orthodox parish in the United States and staging events that raise awareness and support for IOCC.
Please pray for our volunteers and IOCC events this month:
To learn about other upcoming events, visit www.iocc.org/events for further details.
May Bulletin Announcements
- GEORGIA: IOCC has been active in Georgia since 1994. This year, IOCC assisted thousands of families who were displaced by the 2008 war with emergency supplies including food, hygiene kits, baby kits, blankets, and fuel for heating and cooking. IOCC created a beef demonstration farm to train local farmers in animal care, pasture management, bringing cattle to market and issued over 70 new microloans during 2008. IOCC also trained Georgian Orthodox clergy and teachers to combat drug abuse among youth which reached nearly 2 million people with faith-based messages. To make a donation, call IOCC toll-free at 1-877-803-4622, send a check or give with confidence online at www.iocc.org.
- GULF COAST: IOCC will continue sending teams down to the Gulf Coast to build homes for those affected by Hurricane Katrina NOW through July 26, 2009. Everyone 16 and older is welcome to volunteer for a week at a time! The total cost per team member is $500, which pays for your airfare, room and board for the week. Please encourage anyone interested to check out www.iocc.org/gulfcoast. Please remember you MUST apply a minimum of one month before you plan to depart. This is the last year IOCC will send volunteers down to the Gulf Coast and spots are filling up, so ACT NOW! If you cannot go to the Gulf Coast yourself, consider sponsoring someone else who could go. Please call IOCC toll-free at 1-877-803-4622 for more information visit www.iocc.org/gulfcoast.
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EVENTS: Thank you to those who have already set dates for your 2009 event(s). Please check out www.iocc.org/events to see an updated list of events going on throughout the country to raise awareness and funds for IOCC. Ask your priest for an available date to host a coffee hour, wine tasting, concert or dinner. To read a summary and see pictures of past events, visit www.iocc.org/pastevents. For more information, please contact Vasi Jankovich, vjankovich@iocc.org or 1-877-803-4622.
IOCC MATERIALS: Save IOCC money by printing IOCC materials off www.iocc.org/materials. You can download posters, newsletters, and much more!
EMERGENCY KITS: Answering an urgent need for baby clothes, a group of family and friends gathered for a birthday luncheon honoring Helen Varoutsos and Hope Verras in Massachusetts. In lieu of gifts, guests brought items needed for “baby kits”. The group assembled and sent the kits to IOCC for distribution. You too can perform a labor of love and assemble kits for a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, shower, etc.) or just to help out those in need. Learn how to assemble kits at www.iocc.org/kits!
MAY VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT: Mrs. Debra George knew very little about IOCC earlier this year when an IOCC speaker came to her parish. This was the first time Debra fully understood what IOCC does.
The conflict in Gaza was a turning point for Debra: “As a mother of three, all I could think of at that point was what a nightmare it was for the children there who were being shot at and bombed,” says Debra. “I couldn’t sleep and I prayed constantly for those young innocents.” This is when Debra decided to contact IOCC.
Although Debra was a busy mother of three and had never planned an event, she knew that many people suffering overseas needed her help NOW. Debra and the Antiochian Women of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church in Syracuse, NY planned a Gaza benefit luncheon on March 1, 2009. This was the largest IOCC fundraiser that was ever held in Syracuse. Over 200 people attended. The event raised nearly $10,000, which will enable IOCC to continue its work of providing food, blankets, hygiene supplies, home repairs, community center reconstruction and job opportunities to the most vulnerable families in Gaza.
This experience inspired Debra and other members of her parish to join the Syracuse Metropolitan Committee! They are hoping to have an IOCC event at St. Elias on an annual basis!
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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