How parishes can help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

SYOSSET, NY [OCA CSHA]
The Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid (CSHA) is encouraging all parishes to assist International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in providing emergency assistance to those suffering as a result of Hurricane Sandy. 

According to Mrs. Donna Karabin, department chair, IOCC has received initial requests for anticipated shipments of emergency relief items from its ecumenical partners for communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy.  IOCC is urging Orthodox Christian parishes to assist by assembling emergency relief items and by making financial donations.

“The scenes of destruction that we have witnessed from this superstorm certainly prompt us to keep all those affected in our thoughts and prayers,” said Constantine M. Triantafilou, IOCC Executive Director.  “Now is the time to assemble emergency health and infant kits as well as clean-up buckets which will be sorely needed by storm survivors.”

Instructions for preparing Emergency Kits may be found on IOCC’s web site at http://www.iocc.org/giftsofheart.aspx.

“Parishes may also find helpful information from those who in the past have undertaken Gift of the Heart projects in an article, ‘Providing Disaster Relief with Gift of the Heart Kits,’ that appeared in an earlier edition of the OCA’s Resource Handbook,” added Mrs. Karabin.  The article may be accessed at http://oca.org/resource-handbook/commservice/providing-disaster-relief-with-gift-of-the-heart-kits.

Financial gifts to help the victims of disasters in the United States, like Hurricane Sandy, may be made to the United States Emergency Response Fund at https://www.sagepayments.net/sagenonprofit/shopping_cart/forms/donate.asp?M_id=785466237868 which, will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid and recovery assistance.  To make a gift, please visit http://www.iocc.org call ,toll free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC to PO Box 17398, Baltimore, MD 21297-0429.

Questions or comments about parishes’ experiences with the Gift of the Heart project may be directed to the CSHA at csha@oca.org.