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IOCC Volunteer Update – September 2009
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” — Matthew 19:21
September Bulletin Announcements
 Damascus, Syria — Afakh is a 29-year-old Iraqi refugee who has a diploma in law and public administration, but today she works from her Damascus home as a beautician. Afakh came to Syria in 1991, following her father's escape from Iraq as a dissident who opposed the rule of Saddam Hussein. When she began looking for work in Syria as a lawyer, she found that no law firms in Damascus would employ an Iraqi. Nearly 1 million Iraqis like Afakh have taken refuge in Syria since 2003. Iraqis in Syria are treated as "guests", meaning they are not permitted to work in the public sector. They suffer psychological as well as financial burdens associated with unemployment. In order to help combat this problem, IOCC offers vocational courses for Iraqi refugees in cooking, English, cosmetics, hairstyling, computers, cell phone repair, and sewing. Vocational training affords Iraqi refugees their best chance at finding employment since most of these jobs allow them to work from their home. Afakh welcomed the offer of training courses in cosmetics by IOCC. After completing her course, she began offering her specialized services to women from her home in the Damascus neighborhood of Dumar. The vocational training component is part of IOCC's $4 million program to assist Iraqi refugees in Syria. The program also provides school tuition and school supplies for children and community service projects and emergency supplies for impoverished families. If you would like to assist refugees like Afaqh, call IOCC's donation hotline toll-free at 1-877-803-4622, make a gift on-line at www.iocc.org, or mail a check or money order payable to "IOCC" and write "Middle East Crisis" in the memo line to: IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.
 CHILDREN'S PRAYER
JOURNAL AVAILABLE
Order now IOCC's My Prayer Journal, an exciting tool to teach your Sunday School kids and youth groups the importance of praying for children in need around the world. Each month, children learn about what life is like for kids in a different country: their traditions, the games they play, and what IOCC is doing to support children in need. My Prayer Journal is a great tool for Sunday School lessons and Youth Group activities for children aged 7-12. Pre-order copies of the 2009-2010 edition today. Use the order form found here to order single copies. To order in bulk, please contact the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at 1-800-566-1088.
CHRISTMAS CATALOG
Be on the lookout for IOCC's Christmas Catalog which should be showing up in your mailbox in the next few weeks! Your "gift of love" at Christmas time can make a real difference in someone's life and be a special gift for your loved one. To order a Christmas Catalog or purchase a gift, visit www.iocc.org or contact IOCC at 1-877-803-4622.
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IOCC SUNDAY:
IOCC Sunday is November 22 this year and we have a new theme: "IOCC Sunday – One Great Day of Sharing." You can help your parish share in this special day by:
- By making sure that the SCOBA encyclical is read on IOCC Sunday, Nov. 22
- Taking a special collection for IOCC on IOCC Sunday (November 22)
- Download the IOCC bulletin inserts to place in weekly and monthly bulletin from www.iocc.org/materials.
- Show the IOCC DVD at Coffee Hour
- Have an IOCC Information table set-up by downloading materials here or requesting materials here.
SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT:
Metropolitan Committees are volunteers who play a vital role in supporting the humanitarian mission of IOCC through awareness and fundraising efforts. These committees bring together Orthodox Christians from all ethnic and jurisdictional backgrounds to focus on one common cause: to make a difference in the lives of people in need. Currently, IOCC has Metropolitan Committees in many major cities across the United States, including the Perth Amboy, New Jersey Metropolitan Committee which has come up with a unique way to raise funds and awareness for IOCC. "Every small bit makes a difference. Not only do we plan events, but we also have established a softball league to benefit IOCC. It's a very loosely organized group, playing whenever a field can be reserved, members have no set requirements, we accept all ages, both genders and those with various physical abilities. We've had about five games so far, collected several hundred dollars in freewill offerings and those in the stands enjoyed the fun and fellowship that goes along with watching a sporting event," says Susan Gray, the Perth Amboy committee chair. "I am proud to be a part of this committee, as they continue to educate others about the mission of IOCC and to raise funds even in these difficult economic times."
To learn more about how you can become involved with a committee near you, please visit the IOCC Metropolitan Committee Page and email the contact person in your area. If there is not a Metropolitan Committee in your area and you are interested in starting one, please contact Vasi Jankovich at vjankovich@iocc.org or Megan Carniewski at mcarniewski@iocc.org.
TRI-ING TO REACH WORLDWIDE WITH IOCC:
 Charlotte Todd is part of the Denver, Colorado Metropolitan Committee and is devoted to helping with awareness and fundraising efforts. This year, Charlotte will be participating in a triathlon to raise money for IOCC. "If I can inspire you to give, then your support will in turn inspire me to go the distance for someone besides myself," says Charlotte. "A 2 1/2 hour race is so much more fun when it's done in community for something bigger than ourselves." To learn more about Charlotte's triathlon journey and how you can help raise her goal, please visit Charlotte's "Tri for IOCC" webpage and make a contribution.
UPCOMING IOCC EVENTS:
Please pray for our upcoming events next month and forward details on these events to friends you have in these areas!
- October 3, 2009 – Chicago, IL – "Walk the Walk for IOCC".
Visit www.iocc.org/chicago for more information or to make a donation.
- October 4, 2009 – Syracuse, NY – Pancake Breakfast.
Visit www.iocc.org/events for more information.
- October 6, 2009 – Virginia Beach, VA – Arrow Pines Golf Club.
Visit www.iocc.org/events for more information.
- October 10, 2009 – Hempstead, NY – "Prayer and Praxis" Orthodox Retreat.
Visit www.iocc.org/longisland for more information or to make a donation.
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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