Lenten Resources and Recipes Online
IOCC’s annual booklet of Lenten reflections is now available to view online or download on our Lenten Resources page. This year’s reflections come from women who have volunteered with IOCC in various capacities, from our board of directors to Metropolitan Committees, event organizers, Frontliners, and parish representatives. We’re so grateful to these dedicated women for their service and support of IOCC’s humanitarian work. The Lenten Resources page also features new Lenten recipes to support your Lenten journey. Learn more at iocc.org/lent.
Hard copies of the Reflections for Great Lent brochure are available for your parish: feel free to give Outreach a call at 410.243.9820 or email outreach@iocc.org to order.
Volunteers Needed in Western Kentucky
The US Program is two months into its rebuilding efforts in Marshall County, Kentucky, in response to the tornadoes that devastated the area in December 2021. Through generous volunteer support, IOCC has already completed repairs on one home, and another homeowner will be moving back home shortly!
To help IOCC serve tornado survivors and restore their properties to their pre-storm condition, join us in volunteering for a home build in Western Kentucky. Volunteer opportunities are available through July 31, 2024. Room and board are available for out-of-town volunteers. Volunteers are welcome to help for a day, a week, or longer, at a time. Please contact Krista Hamann at volunteercoordinator@iocc.org or 667.331.9812 with any questions or to set up a team.
Looking for a Youth Project? Assemble School Kits Today
Kids around the world need your help. Long-time IOCC partner Church World Service has shared that the warehouse needs new school kits for kids who have no supplies for their education! These packages of basics for students—made with love by our faithful IOCC supporters—travel in shipping containers full of kits to children in need around the world. Find out how your parish can help at iocc.org/kits.
Celebrating Success: How Your Support Shaped Angel’s Future
Meet Angel, a 63-year-old culinary enthusiast with roots in Syria and Armenia who has worked in one of IOCC’s community kitchens in Lebanon. Through YOUR support for IOCC, now she’s making a fresh start with a new way to earn income so that she may support her family – especially her husband who faces health challenges.
“Thanks to IOCC’s training, I’ve started receiving orders, helping cover my family’s expenses,” Angel shared. Guided by a professional chef, she has honed her skills and found her true calling.
Read Angel’s full story here.
Volunteers in Action
Thank you to the IOCC volunteers across the country who support our mission every day!
Austin, TX
It was a full house at the Austin Arabian Nights Fundraiser to benefit IOCC’s work in the Holy Land, hosted at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church! This exciting event allowed guests to come together over delicious Arab food, traditional Arab music, and a presentation about the work IOCC is doing in the Middle East by Fr. David Barr and IOCC board member John Sobchak. Attendees were also treated to a personal reflection from Yvonne, a St. Elias parishioner from the Holy Land, about her childhood growing up in the area. Because of the generosity of the organizer, volunteers, and attendees of this event, IOCC is better able to help provide comfort and meet the material needs of those facing the ongoing crisis happening in the Holy Land. A heartfelt thanks to event organizer, Pamela Hayek, and all the volunteers who worked incredibly hard to pull off a beautiful and fruitful evening!
Portland, OR
The Sunday School students at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, led by Antonia Degliatoni, were excited to prepare 200 hygiene kits for IOCC’s emergency kits program. They also listened to the updates presented by IOCC staffer Alexis Rouches about IOCC’s work and the countries where the kits are shipped to help people in need. Our heartfelt thanks go to Antonia Degliatoni and to the lovely Sunday School students for doing such an amazing job!
Antiochian Village, PA
The Ancient Faith Women organized their first Ancient Singles Retreat 30+ at the Antiochian Village. As a service project during their free time at the retreat, participants assembled 500 hygiene kits for IOCC. Guests enjoyed the project, which was an opportunity to work together on something meaningful while they were getting to know each other. Many thanks to Ancient Faith Ministries CEO Melinda Johnson for selecting IOCC kits as service project for this retreat and to the guests who so enthusiastically embarked on this initiative.
Baltimore, MD
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Preschool students raised funds by doing chores and helping around the house during the month of February. On March 9, the funds collected were handed over to IOCC Outreach Manager Corina Mararu, who talked to the children about Ugandan students whom IOCC helped fulfill their dreams to become engineers, doctors, and teachers. It was touching to receive the coins the preschoolers had worked hard for and to hear about their own dreams for the future. Many thanks to St. Demetrios preschool teachers, to Kelly MacDonnell, to preschool students, and to their parents for participating in this wonderful initiative and supporting their students with donations!
Upcoming Events
Interested in planning your own virtual or in-person event to raise awareness about IOCC? Get one on the calendar today! We’d love to help you organize, so please contact IOCC’s Outreach team at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org.
Check for updates at iocc.org/events. And thank you for partnering with us!
April 7 – Wichita, KS – A Special IOCC Lenten Fundraiser
April 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh Youth Health Kit Drive & Assembly
May 16 – Chicago, IL – 32nd Annual IOCC Chicago Grand Banquet
June 3 – Cleveland, OH – IOCC Cleveland 32nd Annual Banquet
IOCC Is Hiring
Bring your expertise to an organization making a difference around the world and join our team. Know someone who would be a perfect fit? Please pass this info along to them! For full job description and application instructions, visit iocc.org/careers.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Officer – HQ
Stay Connected with IOCC Online!
Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and our Latest Updates to keep up to date with IOCC news, view event photos, and get a firsthand look at how your support is changing lives around the world.
