IOCC Volunteer Update | June 2018

IOCC Volunteer Update | June 2018

June 30, 2018

IOCC at Clergy Laity & the All-American Council

Will you be attending the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Clergy Laity Congress in Boston, Massachusetts (July 1–5)? If so, stop by our exhibit booth and chat with IOCC staff: Christina Meares, Manager of Outreach, Special Events, and Donor Engagement; and Gift Officers Lou Zagami and Nick Kasemeotes. Or if you’ll be at the Orthodox Church in America’s All-American Council in St. Louis, Missouri (July 23–27), stop by to meet Sandra Shaker Mansour, Outreach Coordinator and Gift Officer Nick Kasemeotes. We’d love to see you!

Volunteers Needed in the US

Want to help neighbors in need by volunteering right here in the US? We need volunteers to help with critical home repairs and builds! Several opportunities are now available for the upcoming summer:

  • July 16-21 in Houston, TX
  • July 23-28 in Houston, TX
  • August 13-18 in Houston, TX

To register or learn more, visit iocc.org/homebuild. To read more about our long-term response after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, made possible by your support, click here.

Did You Know …?

World Refugee Day was June 20. Read the story of one refugee IOCC has served below:

Back in Syria, Mohammad—a father of seven—worked as a mechanic. He had completed a bachelor’s degree and held a good job. But when conflict broke out in Syria, he and his family had to flee. Starting over in a new city is difficult under the best of circumstances; it’s an even greater challenge for refugees. IOCC Jordan has provided vocational training to Syrian refugees, and Mohammad trained in home electrical wiring. While he was training, IOCC provided rent assistance to his family, so he could concentrate on learning. Mohammad also received a small grant to launch a new business, based on a business plan developed and reviewed by IOCC. Continue Reading

Click here to learn more about how IOCC has offered hope and opportunities for refugees over the past 26 years.

IOCC Awareness Events

Organizing an IOCC event in your parish or community? IOCC Outreach is here to help you plan and publicize! To get your local IOCC event on the calendar, contact us atoutreach@iocc.org.

Pittsburgh, PA

On May 29, young adults in the Pittsburgh area got together at Duke’s Upper Deck for a singles gathering, turning out to make new friends and share some delicious bites and drinks. Guests supported IOCC with their generous donations and by taking the time to learn more about IOCC’s development and relief work worldwide. Thanks to Nick Terezis and Bob Ruschak for organizing this fun event!

Pawtucket, RI

Orthodox faithful from across jurisdictions in the Pawtucket area gathered on June 2 for Vespers and an IOCC benefit dinner. An “Around the World with IOCC” theme allowed guests to enjoy dishes that featured a delightful mix of flavors and cultures. IOCC Development Officer Lou Zagami shared updates on IOCC’s work in Greece, Haiti, the Middle East, and Serbia, with special attention given to IOCC’s response in Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey. Albert Sawalha, an IOCC volunteer who recently moved from Houston to Massachusetts, shared his experience “mucking-out” a home in Houston back in September. Thank you to Ioannis Apostolakis, Fr. Philip Zymaris, Albert Sawalha, and all those who donated food for making this blessed evening possible!

Cleveland, OH

The IOCC Cleveland Metropolitan Committee held its annual banquet on June 3; this marked its 26th banquet as the committee has been holding events to support IOCC since its inception. About 170 guests gathered at St. Michael’s Woodside Events Center and enjoyed a lovely musical performance by the Sarena Orchestra during the reception and dinner. Mr. Ted Theodore emceed the evening, and IOCC Development Officer Lou Zagami offered updates on IOCC’s work around the world and shared reflections from his experience as a Frontliner deployed recently in Houston. The committee also presented beloved priest V. Rev. Yves Babich with the Diane Zamiska Award for his outstanding commitment to IOCC. It was a lovely evening that once again brought together a faithful family of dedicated volunteers and supporters. Thank you to Connie Zimmerman, Julie Hall, Popadija Kathy Babich, Paula Svilar, Diane Hastings, and all the other volunteers for a wonderful banquet!

Volunteers in Action

Let us know about your kit drives and IOCC presentations – email images and brief write-ups to outreach@iocc.org so we can feature them here. And thank you!

Philadelphia, PA

The 5th and 6th graders at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation decided to dedicate their Sunday School “Giving from the Heart” campaign to IOCC in hopes of helping children like them around the world. Through their campaign, they put into action the lessons they learned throughout the year. One of the students, Angelina, shares, “In 5th and 6th grades, our focus was to understand the principles of giving and helping others from the heart! Each student of our classroom … learned the importance of using their God-given skills and abilities to help others with love, kindness, faithfulness, compassion, and humility.” A special thank you to Fr. John Johns and Zaffie Zoubroulis, who made this possible!

Upcoming Events

Interested in planning your own event to raise awareness about IOCC? Get one on the calendar today! We’d love to send a speaker to your parish or event, so please contact us at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org. Thank you for bringing IOCC to your community!

Check for updates at iocc.org/events.

IOCC is Hiring

Bring your expertise to an organization making a difference around the world and join our team in the following position. Know someone who would be a perfect fit? Please pass this info along to them! For full job descriptions and application instructions, visitiocc.org/careers.

HQ Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Officer.