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International Orthodox Christian Charities

IOCC Volunteer Update | September 2018

IOCC Volunteer Update | September 2018

September 30, 2018

Race with Team IOCC this Fall!

There’s still time to join IOCC staff and supporters at the Baltimore Running Festival on October 20! Join us in our 6th year running in Charm City by signing up here.

Got a race coming up in your hometown—perhaps a marathon or Turkey Trot? Register for your favorite race, and run solo or with a team for IOCC! Contact an Outreach Coordinator at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org to set up a personal fundraising page.

IOCC’s Response to Hurricane Florence

IOCC is on the ground in North Carolina:

  • IOCC Frontliners offered emotional and spiritual care to people at a Red Cross shelter in Winston-Salem, NC, and remain in Wilmington. Frontliners are professionals specially trained to serve those affected by disaster and trauma.
  • On 9/20, IOCC’s emergency response van arrived in Wilmington, NC. Team leaders and volunteers are conducting rapid needs assessments. Muck outs have started, clearing water-damaged homes of sludge and debris.
  • Through its kits partnership, IOCC received 400 clean-up buckets and 420 hygiene kits to distribute to people in the Wilmington area, supporting first steps in this early response. Kits are arriving at St. Basil Orthodox Church in Wilmington week of 9/24. IOCC has also procured tarps for families experiencing leaky roofs.

Want to help? Please pray for those affected, and for those responding to their needs. A gift to IOCC’s Hurricane Response Fund helps address immediate needs following a hurricane and supports long-term recovery efforts. Thank you!

More than 1,300 People Have Answered the Call

In recognition of National Preparedness Month, we would like to thank the 1,300 plus IOCC volunteers who have, throughout the years, dedicated over 40,000 hours of hard work to help more than 250 families rebuild after their homes were damaged by natural disasters.

Volunteers have served in places like Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and the Gulf Coast, putting their faith into action in a rewarding way.

Read more and sign up to volunteer here.

IOCC Sunday is November 18

Looking for a way to spread the word about IOCC in your parish? IOCC Sunday is the perfect day! There are plenty of ways you can bring your community together around giving to others:

  • Encourage clergy participation. Ask your priest to read the IOCC Sunday Encyclical from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, and take a special collection for IOCC.
  • Dedicate an activity after liturgy to IOCC. Organize a coffee hour or host a luncheon after liturgy to introduce the life-saving work IOCC does around the world. Show a video, display materials on a table for parishioners to take home, or raise funds to support those in need.
  • Involve parish youth with a fun event. Even in the cold weather, there are so many things youth groups and Sunday School classes can do! Hold a kit drive or a have them host a fundraiser – a gyro sale, frappe sale, or spaghetti dinner are all great ideas.

Need a flyer or promo materials for your parish on IOCC Sunday? Contact Outreach at outreach@iocc.org or 410-243-9820. Visit iocc.org/DayOfSharing to get started.

Giving Tuesday

#GivingTuesday will be November 27 this year, and it’s never too early to gear up! Keep an eye out for this year’s campaign, and watch your dollars make a difference for those in need around the world.

IOCC Awareness Events

Pittsburgh, PA

On Thursday, September 6, about a dozen IOCC supporters in the Pittsburgh area gathered for an intimate Irish whiskey tasting. Guests sampled whiskeys over light hors d’oeuvres, while catching up with one another and supporting the work of IOCC. Thanks to Nick Terezis and Kevin Reck for organizing yet another great event!

Atlanta, GA

Orthodox faithful from across jurisdictions in the Atlanta area gathered on September 22 for Vespers and an IOCC benefit dinner. The evening featured a wine reception, and guests mingled over food generously donated by local restaurants. IOCC Development Officer Lou Zagami shared updates on IOCC’s work around the world, including Greece, the Middle East, Haiti, and right here in the US. Thank you to Barbara Massoudi and the rest of the Atlanta committee for hosting a wonderful night for all!

Virginia Beach, VA

On September 23, Orthodox Christians from several parishes around Hampton Roads gathered to take part in the annual Fr. Sav Constantinou Memorial Mission Walk. More than 140 walkers made their way through First Landing State Park in support of local and international charities, including IOCC. IOCC Outreach Manager Christina Meares presented briefly on IOCC’s response to Hurricane Florence in the US, as well as work in Greece after the recent wildfires and school construction in Uganda. Thank you to all who volunteered and participated, especially Ed Ullom and Kathy Stephanitses for organizing such a special day.

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, visit iocc.org/careers.

Executive Assistant

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