IOCC Assists American Red Cross in Houston/Galveston Hurricane Clean-Up Effort

Monday, October 20, 2008

INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES (IOCC)
110 West Road, Suite 360, Baltimore, Md. 21204
Tel: (410) 243-9820 - Fax: (410) 243-9824
Web: www.iocc.org - E-mail: news@iocc.org

October 17, 2008

IOCC Assists American Red Cross in Houston/Galveston Hurricane Clean-Up Effort

Baltimore, Maryland - International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) lent a hand recently to the American Red Cross in its effort to bring relief and recovery to communities in Houston and Galveston that were devastated by Hurricane Ike. IOCC delivered $140,000 worth of medical and hygiene supplies to the American Red Cross Auchan shelter in Houston. The supplies include such items as baby wipes, gloves, hygiene and toiletry kits, antibacterial soap and medical items.

The supplies, which were donated by IOCC partner Globus Relief, will be divided among Auchan and three other shelters in the Houston area benefitting more than 2,000 individuals.

Since early September, IOCC has also been sending a team of Orthodox clergy known as the Frontline to American Red Cross shelters in Houston and Galveston. The Frontline volunteers are trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), a form of trauma counseling and evaluation. Shelters are filled to capacity, according to American Red Cross officials who invited IOCC's assistance.

Several Orthodox churches in the Houston area, as well as outside Texas, have provided IOCC with valuable logistical assistance, supplies and counsel throughout this effort.

IOCC has issued an emergency appeal for its continuing response to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes. Orthodox faithful, including Sunday Schools, youth groups and others, are also urged to continue providing emergency clean-up buckets and health kits for shipment to the Gulf Coast (for information on assembling the kits go to www.iocc.org/emergencykits). IOCC distributed 1,000 such kits in New Orleans and Baton Rouge immediately following Hurricane Gustav.

Help us speed relief to the Gulf Coast's devastated communities by making a donation today. Call IOCC's donation hotline toll-free at 1-877-803-4622, make a gift on-line at www.iocc.org, or mail a check or money order payable to "IOCC" and write "US Emergency Response" in the memo line to: IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.

IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), has implemented over $275 million in relief and development programs in 33 countries around the world.


Media: Contact Amal Morcos at 410-243-9820 or (cell)443-823-3489.