NEW YORK – Last year, as Greece’s economic crisis was compounded by the refugee/migrant crisis, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) added a new dimension to its work in Greece when it joined its partner in philanthropy Apostoli – Mission, the charitable able of the Church of Greece, in helping with the refugee/migrant situation.
IOCC was established in 1992 as an international philanthropic endeavor of the Orthodox jurisdictions in America. Greek-Americans were enthusiastic from the start, seeing it as a vehicle for charity that did not begin and end at home.
The Greek crisis changed everything, and for a number of years IOCC has been helping the homeland’s neediest.
Executive Director and CEO Dean Triantafilou spoke to TNH about IOCC’s work in Greece.
“The key element is that under the umbrella of crisis in Greece there are two tracks, the economic crisis and the refugee crisis. “You can’t talk about one without the other…Having the resources available in a normal time would stretch any country, but to do that when you are facing austerity measures compounds the problem,” he said.
What makes a deep impression on him is that “you don’t see Greece backing away from its humanitarian responsibilities,” noting that Greece’s institutions, the government as a whole, the Army and its citizens are stepping up.
“What IOCC is trying to do is help in some small way with whatever we can contribute.”
Its refugee activities reflect their traditional international work, with distributions of food and other items. “There are small food bags that give people a meal,” he said.
IOCC tries to procure as much as possible in Greece to provide some economic stimulus and are working with Apostoli, which has a physical presence on Samos, Chios, and Kos, where Triantafilou just met with two staffers.
“They are very strong. Compassionate and passionate about what they do. They are welcomed by the local authorities and the Church, which is very heartwarming,” he said, adding “They have also connected with the local NGO communities so that wherever there is a gap, they fill it. There was a food gap last Thursday and Friday and they were able to take 700 food kits there.”
There is strong synergy with Apostolos on the ground and IOCC sharing its more than 20 years of experience, but the spiritual guidance the latter receives shapes and energizes the mission.
“Archbishop Ieronymos told me years ago is to help people with dignity and respect,” Triantafillou said. He has been overseeing humanitarian work for a long time, but he was deeply moved to realize that philanthropy does not extend only to the living. Those who have passed away are also deserving of dignity and respect.
When a hospital morgue reached its capacity, IOCC moved to purchase freezer-containers to increase the capacity given all the refugees dying in the Aegean.
IOCC seeks to take action that will beneficial in dealing with the overall economic crisis and the refugee, crisis, for example, by helping hospitals that are impacted by both.
MONEY, PRAYER NEEDED
Asked how the community can help, Triantafilou’s voice took on an even more serious tone and he said “First and foremost you have to pray for peace and long lasting solutions to the crisis in the Middle East. And for tolerance. This crisis is changing the world and these people are not going to all go back, so we have to pray for consistency and wisdom and tolerance for our leaders…Pray also for the people who are living in Greece with their day to day struggles to have patience.”
He urges members of the community to get engaged responsibly regarding the refugees and the wider crisis, advising them to look into organizations operating with transparency, to “know what they are doing and where their money is going… you want to make sure that whatever you are doing, you are doing good.”
At this time IOCC has not created volunteer opportunities in Greece on either front, but people they can donate to the Give to Greece Program.
Donations can be made by clicking the “Giving Opportunities” tab at the top of the website at iocc.org.
BRIGHT SPOTS IN GREECE
Triantafilou’s message to the Greek-American community is that “It will be vitally important not to get fatigued about giving to Greece. It’s not all doom and gloom. There are a lot of good things happening, a lot of people getting engaged and a lot of things moving forward,” like its development project that is part of its Give to Greece program.
The current Give to Greece II initiative was made possible by the challenge grant given by the Jaharis Family Foundation. It is wrapping up and was very successful according to Triantafilou.
The components include sending dry goods to large families with low incomes. The fresh produce program helps similar families by allowing them to shop at grocery stores with a debit card.
There is also an economic development program that promotes entrepreneurship and includes setting up women’s cooperatives and farm associations. These are people who have returned to family farms to start businesses, creating employment for them and their neighbors.
They receive small grants to buy equipment, seedlings, and supplies to restart their farms. “It’s a pilot project and we will continue to explore” what can be done and expand it in the coming year,” Triantafilou said, adding “There will be a Gift for Greece III and anything they can contribute to that will be extremely helpful,” he said.
The main changes will be the expansion of the program which Triantafilou said “is a push on the continuum toward development and the rebuilding of Greece.”