Rebuilding After Cyclone Boris in Romania
In the fall of 2024, Cyclone Boris devastated communities across central and eastern Europe, including the county in eastern Romania where Ana lives. Her home, where she cares for her two grandchildren, was badly damaged by severe flooding. Living on a small pension, she feared what might be coming next.
Local authorities had helped Ana repair her home, but with winter approaching, she still had no essential household appliances—and no source of heat. But Ana still had her faith. “I trusted that God would not leave us alone,” she says. Her prayers were answered. IOCC and local partner Federation Filantropia, the main humanitarian organization of the Romanian Orthodox Church, identified her family among those in critical need. Local church representatives visited these families and listed the appliances each one needed.
Ana received a new washing machine and a new heating stove, along with 600 logs of firewood, to see her and her grandchildren through the winter.
“I never imagined we would receive so much,” says Ana. “To have warmth in the house, to be able to wash the children’s clothes…”
The project team came to Ana’s house to ensure that everything was delivered and properly installed. “The firewood keeps us warm through the cold nights, and I can’t describe how much that peace means to us,” she says. “I pray that others who receive this support feel as blessed as I do. It’s not just the things—it’s the message that we are not forgotten.”
Ana’s family was one of 30 that received high-quality household equipment. Providing heating stoves and washing machines not only improves living conditions, but reduces the need for financial assistance, helping families gain independence.
