We’d like to update you on the works of our local Philoptochos chapter, while also sharing the official newsletter of the parent organization, attached below (Philanthropy Witness). This newsletter will make you aware of the far reaching philanthropic efforts of the Greek Orthodox Church through the efforts of Philoptochos (the largest christian women’s charity in the US).
Although our local chapter’s ability to execute fundraisers was severely curtailed by Covid-19 (as were the plans of all chapters across the country), we have still been active with humanitarian work benefiting our local community, while also keeping current with our national commitments. Below is a summary of our work over the past few months:
Karl King Tower donation - We donated $100 to the Karl King Tower on Lincolway Dr. (low income housing) at a time when it became apparent that the residents needed food, as they were severely impacted by the work restrictions associated with the pandemic, and the Food Bank was not able to deliver food to them during that particular time.
Donation to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana - Through a GoFundMe drive, we raised $1,103.80 which has already been received by our local food bank. As you know, many more people have depended on food banks since the start of the pandemic as they lost jobs, or were temporarily furloughed as part of the stay-at-home executive orders.
Donation to the national Philoptochos Covid-19 fund - $200
Making Masks - Thank you to everyone that has engaged with us to help make cloth masks for non-responders in our local community within the hospital, police and fire fighting communities, grocery store workers and parishioners that may need them. The project is in progress, with a combination of purchasing fabric and elastic with parishioner donated funds ($740 to date) and having a seamstress make the masks, asking that we only provide the materials. In addition, Terry Stavros and Alexis Fernandes are also sewing masks for us. If you are a parishioner in need of a mask, please contact the church office or email Philoptochos.sb@gmail.com. Our plan is to make at least 200 masks to distribute to Saint Joe and Memorial Hospitals, the police and fire departments that service Saint Andrew, and to our parishioners who need masks.
National and Metropolis commitments:
Bishop’s Welfare Fund - $50
Orthodox Christian Missions - $50
Support a mission priest - $50
Hellenic College Holy Cross - $50
Saint Basil Academy-Sisterhood Fund - $50
International Orthodox Christian Charities - $50
75th Anniversary Founder’s Fund - $50
Orthodox Christian Fellowship - $50
Metropolis Philanthropy Fund - $100 (This fund is very critical as it can help our own parishioners who have a financial need)
Membership fee to National Philoptochos - $420
Membership fee to Metropolis Philoptochos - $146
(Our plan was to give minimum donations of $100 to all our commitments, but the pandemic’s impact on our ability to execute fundraisers hindered that plan, hence the numerous $50 donations.)
In closing, thank you to all who support the Saint Andrew philanthropic efforts through the work of Philoptochos. Our intent is to be very transparent with where your donated dollars are going. If you have any questions, please let me know. (Philoptochos.sb@gmail.com ).
Happy summer to all of you!
Spyro Terezis on behalf of Saint Andrew Philoptochos