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IOCC Volunteer Update – May 2010
“The grace of charity is greater than the grace of resurrecting from the dead…No one is saved if he does not help others to be saved also.” — St. John Chrysostom
May Bulletin Announcements
 Haiti
As of April 9, 2010, approximately $2.7 million in aid has been provided to survivors of Haiti's January 12 earthquake by International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). The distribution of relief supplies, which began arriving to Haiti within one week of the disaster, has directly served an estimated 100,000 people. Aid to survivors has been done in cooperation with ACT Alliance members, the Orthodox churches and other humanitarian partners. IOCC currently has direct presence in the country with consultant, Mark Gruin, arriving in Haiti on April 8. Mr. Gruin is working collaboratively with the Haitian Orthodox communities as well as coordinating activities with UN agencies and major donors and organizations active in Haiti. |
Volunteer Forum with IOCC
You asked and we listened! Many dedicated IOCC volunteers have expressed an interest in conversing with others who are committed to raising awareness about IOCC in their respective communities. On Tuesday, June 1 at 1pm EDT, IOCC will be holding a conference call for all volunteers interested in learning from one another's experiences. Don't miss out on this informational session with discussion from IOCC employees, an address from a keynote volunteer, and a Q&A session! Details and a formal invitation will soon follow. For more questions, please contact IOCC Outreach Coordinators Megan Carniewski at mcarniewski@iocc.org or Vasi Jankovich at vjankovich@iocc.org.
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Attending any diocesan conferences this summer?
If so, let us know! IOCC is interested in learning about which conferences IOCC volunteers will be at this summer. It is our hope that these conferences will act as another outlet to allow IOCC volunteers to engage with one another and IOCC employees. Please contact IOCC Outreach Coordinators Megan Carniewski at mcarniewski@iocc.org or Vasi Jankovich at vjankovich@iocc.org with your summer conference schedule. |
Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving!
Are you looking for a gift for a birthday, graduation, or wedding? Consider giving the gift that keeps on giving by donating to IOCC in the name of your loved one. Know that your gift will be put to good use, as it will be used to help those in need around the world! |
Gulf Coast Volunteers Needed!
The first group of volunteers are hard at work and teams will continue to travel to the Gulf Coast 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. |
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Nino Magradze helps encourage a student drawing a self-portrait.
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MAY VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT
Volunteers in the Republic of Georgia
The word "volunteer" is not part of the vocabulary for the majority of Georgians. Since the unemployment rate in Georgia is 29.2%, it is easy to understand why, however, eleven professional and student psychologists found the time to volunteer for over 2000 hours from April-June, 2010. After twenty psychologists received four months of free trainings from IOCC, thirteen were eager to give back. From January through March, 2010, the psychologists designed an anti-smoking and anti-aggression program for 5th-7th graders in cooperation with IOCC.
In March, the psychologists launched their programs in schools and an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) settlement in Tbilisi. Every volunteer provided between six and twelve one hour sessions to students in Tbilisi schools. After each session, the students were usually begging the volunteers not to leave. During one psychologist's last session with one of her classes, she said: "All the students hugged us and kissed us and asked us to make another project to work with them." Another member of the anti-smoking group said "I have learned goal setting, how to write a proposal, fundraising, making presentations to various groups and how to create a project on my own ... thank you IOCC."
Students write a letter to a hypothetical person in order to try to encourage the person to turn their life around using some of the strategies they learned during their sessions with the psychologists. | |
The program was not only successful to the beneficiaries, but also helped with Georgia's unemployment rate. Because of this project, two of the psychologists were able to find full-time work within the first month the project was launched. One psychologist, Sesili, was looking for work for months before the program began. After less than a month, the Georgian Orthodox Church hired Sesili to work at the psychological arm of the Patriarchate.
IOCC would like to thank all of the volunteers for the amount of time put into spreading the word on the good work we do. We could not start projects like this without your support!
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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!
- May 10, 2010 – Castro Valley, CA – Golf Tournament
- May 16, 2010 – Buffalo, NY – Taste of Orthodoxy
- May 20, 2010 – New York, NY – Social Event with the Cathedral Fellowship
- May 22, 2010 – Boston, MA – IOCC Picnic
- May 22, 2010 – Phoenix, AZ – 5k Walk
- June 2010 – San Francisco, CA – Pinot Days
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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