North Carolina and Georgia, October 9, 2024
At Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Augusta, Georgia. Photo: goarch.org
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction across the southeastern United States, Greek Orthodox parishes have stepped up to support their communities’ urgent needs.
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Churches in Asheville, North Carolina and Augusta, Georgia chose to forgo their planned Greek festivals over the past two weekends. Instead, they redirected their efforts to prepare and distribute food to those affected by the disaster, reports the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Despite facing their own challenges amongst their parishioners, including home damage and loss of power and cell service, these parishes located in the hurricane’s path have exemplified Christian values, sharing their resources with neighbors who have lost homes, food, and water, demonstrating a powerful testament to living out their faith in times of crisis.
Both parishes are accepting online donations towards their efforts (see here and here).
Additionally, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has mobilized its response team to the affected region to provide immediate assistance and evaluate the extent of the damage. The organization is collaborating with other relief agencies, dispatching field personnel to conduct needs assessments, and collecting resources for those affected.
As part of their comprehensive approach, IOCC frontline workers have initiated care calls to local parishes. These calls serve a dual purpose: offering emotional support to community members and gathering firsthand information from those directly impacted by the hurricane.
Join IOCC in this response by making a donation to the U.S. Emergency Response Fund.
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