Stay Prepared Ahead of the Next Disaster
While each of us is doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, we also have the ability to do our part to prepare for weather-related events that can severely impact your life and community. IOCC is urging everyone to plan now, and stay prepared. And, if you have kids, make sure to include them in your planning process! If you aren’t sure where to start, we’ve created simple templates to guide you, your community, and your parish. Get started today with our easy guides.
Updates: Lebanon Explosion & COVID-19 on Ancient Faith Radio
Recently, Bobby Maddex of Ancient Faith Radio spoke with IOCC’s Executive Director & CEO Dean Triantafilou and Director of Operations Stacey Mason. Listen to learn how IOCC is responding in Lebanon after the Beirut explosion, and get updated on our COVID-19 response, including IOCC Care Calls.
Virtual Bike Ride for IOCC
On September 26, we’re racing across the country (and across the globe!) in a virtual bike ride to raise funds and awareness for IOCC programs. Keep yourself and your neighbors safe while helping people in need worldwide. Ride solo or form a (virtual) team, and bike with us for 1, 10, 50, or 100 miles. Complete the bike ride together but separately, indoors or out. It’s a fun, safe way to help IOCC reach people in need. Think about involving the whole family, or even recruiting friends at your local parish so a church can participate remotely! Registration is $20 per person. Our top fundraiser will receive a handcrafted item from a country where IOCC works, and the participants with the top times in each category will receive an IOCC t-shirt. Get started here.
IOCC Care Calls—Available Now
IOCC is offering a tool to guide you and your parish in reaching out to those who may need some emotional and spiritual care during this challenging time. If someone’s feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or experiencing negative feelings in the current situation, a care call from a friend or acquaintance can have a very positive impact. An IOCC Care Call provides an intentional space for a person to share what they are experiencing in the present crisis, validates feelings, and offers resources that can help. Our mission is inspired by Christ’s love for all, and our work meets the highest standards of professional care. Download the IOCC Care Calls Guide & Script at iocc.org/carecalls and get started today.
Help People from Home—Fundraise through DIY for IOCC
Want a way to give back? DIY for IOCC combines your passion for helping others with creative ways to raise awareness and funds for IOCC. Simply create a personal fundraising page through our website and share it online through social media. Choose to celebrate a birthday, honor a loved one, dedicate a race to IOCC, or use your imagination and create your own. We’re here to help every step of the way, so start today and be the difference for someone in need.
Coming Soon: New Prayer Journal
Watch for our brand new IOCC Prayer Journal, coming soon to your mailbox and inbox! If you’re looking for new ways to get the young people in your life engaged with IOCC, this is a great place to start. With a focus on IOCC’s inspiration scripture of Matthew 25, our Prayer Journal is a colorful booklet created children can use throughout the year to explore ways that IOCC serves, fun activities to learn more about needs people face worldwide, and Orthodox prayers that can be said daily. Print booklets will be available for order soon at iocc.org—keep an eye out for more details!
Home Build Volunteer Opportunities
As we all live through this time of social distancing, IOCC’s home build activities have been temporarily postponed. IOCC is committed to continuing our work in the US through helping to rebuild homes affected by natural disasters. Please keep an eye on our US Programs page at iocc.org/us for opportunities to volunteer as soon as it is safe to do so!
Upcoming Events
Interested in planning your own virtual event to raise awareness about IOCC? Get one on the calendar today! We’d love to help you organize one, so please contact IOCC’s Outreach team at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org.
- October 8: Charlotte, NC—IOCC Charlotte Virtual Event
- October 10: Chicago, IL—Virtual Walk the Walk for IOCC
- October 10: Denver, CO—Virtual 5k Run/Walk
- October 25: Philadelphia, PA—IOCC Philadelphia Virtual Event
- November 1: St. Louis, MO—18th Annual Fundraising Campaign
IOCC Awareness Events
Chicago, IL
On August 16, the IOCC Chicago Metropolitan Committee organized a virtual Zoom event in lieu of their annual in-person banquet. Chicago-area participants joined IOCC supporters from across the country for the evening program, which included a keynote address from Mariam Saoma, IOCC’s Regional Programs Officer for the Middle East, a video showcasing IOCC’s work in Uganda, special video messages from six local hierarchs, and a short Q&A with IOCC Executive Director and CEO, Dean Triantafilou. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae and His Eminence Archbishop Paul both offered prayers and inspiring words. Several IOCC Chicago Committee members also joined to offer prayers and greetings, including Fr. Malek Rihani, Bill Vranas, Maria Loukaki, and Omar Rihani. In addition, a very generous grant from the Renaissance Fund that matched gifts helped reach our fundraising goal for the event. Special thanks to all the hierarchs who shared their time with us, to the IOCC Chicago Committee and volunteers who enthusiastically embarked on organizing this event, and to the Renaissance Fund for their generous grant.