Antiochian Orthodox Faithful Assist Haitian Earthquake Relief with Donation to IOCC

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

On Wednesday April 14, 2010, His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, on behalf of the faithful of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, presented a check for $150,000 to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) Executive Director and CEO Constantine M. Triantafilou, in the presence of His Grace Bishop ANTOUN, Order of St Ignatius of Antioch chair Dan Abraham, and IOCC board members the Very Rev. Michael Ellias and Anne Glynn Mackoul at Antiochian Archdiocese headquarters in Englewood, N.J. The gift was a result of the generous response of the Antiochian Orthodox faithful to the appeal that was made by His Eminence immediately after the earthquake struck Haiti.

“When the earth shook in Haiti, it also shook our hearts and our souls. The faithful of the Antiochian Archdiocese responded generously to my appeal and I am pleased to present this check to IOCC,” said His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP. “We are blessed to have IOCC as the humanitarian arm of the Orthodox Church in North America, representing us for such emergencies throughout the world,” His Eminence continued.

It is our prayer that these funds will bring a small measure of comfort to the people of Haiti who have lost so much in this tragedy.

IOCC adds:

“We are grateful to His Eminence and the Antiochian faithful who generously provided this support from churches throughout the U.S.,” said IOCC Board Chairman Alex Machaskee. “The generosity of Orthodox Christians has been tremendous in supporting our efforts to assist those who have been affected by this tragedy,” he continued.

From the first days of this tragedy IOCC has worked on behalf of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) with its Orthodox Christian and ecumenical partners to provide immediate food, shelter and other basic needs to the suffering people of Haiti. IOCC has delivered more than $2.7 million in immediate relief to Haitians since the middle of January. Medicines, medical equipment, water purification and sanitation equipment, tents, hygiene kits, shelter materials, fuel, food, blankets, jerry cans for water and mattresses have been shipped and distributed throughout Haiti in cooperation with Orthodox Christian partners, ACT Alliance members and other partners.

IOCC has received support for Haiti from Orthodox churches throughout the U.S. including thousands of hygiene kits that were assembled or collected by Orthodox Christians. IOCC made an appeal for the kits following the January 12 earthquake. The kits were used to assist Haiti’s survivors and will also be available for use in response to disasters and situations of need throughout the world.

IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.

You can help the victims of disasters around the world, like the Haiti Earthquake, by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need.

To make a gift, please visit www.iocc.org

Call toll free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.