Southern States

May 13, 2011 

Dear National Board Members, Chapter Presidents and Members of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society,

Christ Is Risen!  Truly He Is Risen!

The United States is not immune to catastrophe and natural disaster.  A major portion of the southern United States suffered great loss of life and destruction during the recent rage of more than 750 tornadoes and massive floods.  Enormous devastation occurred and flooding still prevails.  Significantly affected are those persons already economically fragile and now finding themselves without their homes.   This group of newly homeless will exceed 10,000.

On behalf of the National Board of Philoptochos, the Executive Board of the National Philoptochos Society responded to this tragedy by sending aid in the amount of $20,000 from the Society's National Emergency Fund to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).  This sum is marked for emergency relief to reach victims in states affected:  Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky. 

You are also encouraged to assemble hygiene kits and emergency clean-up buckets that are being used for emergency relief in the damaged areas.  Information on the kits and buckets is included with this letter and may also be found on www.iocc.org/kits.

Please continue to offer prayers to the newly Risen Lord for the victims, their families and all those whose lives have been affected.

In Christ,

Aphrodite Skeadas