Dear Holy Trinity Family,
During this wonderful and vibrant fall season, our Philoptochos chapter is engaged in many meaningful activities. Starting on October 15, our members came together in the Church’s social hall for a general member meeting during which we discussed our goals. On October 19, our chapter, led by chairwoman Tina Pantginis, hosted a Prosforo Baking Workshop. The next day, on October 20, we participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. We raised just shy of $7,000 for this worthy cause! Thank you to co-chairs Maria Kohilakis and Margaret Papademetriou for making this event such an overwhelmingly huge success! Several members joined chairwoman Angie Lambros for a visit to Saint Michael’s Home on October 28, also known as “OXI” Day.
Our efforts continued in November. On Sunday, November 3, an Artoklasia was offered to commemorate Saints Cosmas and Damianos, the Patron Saints of Philoptochos. Thank you to Andrea Nicholas for inspiring this spiritual celebration. On November 10, Andrea Nicholas, on behalf of chairwoman Maria Fotiadis, presented grocery gift cards to a veteran representative to distribute to veterans in need. On November 14, volunteers from our chapter along with co-chairwomen Colleen Kourakos and Elizabeth Zoulis served a meal prepared by our own Chef Manny Louros, to cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their families at Gilda’s Club in White Plains. Members of our chapter returned to Saint Michael’s Home for a second visit on November 18.
This December, again, we will be delivering requested items to two schools in New Rochelle as part of our participation in National Philoptochos’ Operation Classroom initiative. Chairwoman Kathy Tzortzidis leads this effort. From November 15 to January 15, our chapter and its members, led by co-chairwomen Felicia Faia and Angie Lambros, are participating in the Archdiocesan District’s Diaper and Blanket for Babies Drive to benefit The Floating Hospital.
Mark your calendars! Our always popular annual Candlelight Dinner will be held in the Church’s social hall on December 12. This year we are honoring our beloved former president, Serene Romas! Co-chairs Anna Damianides and Maria Valliades are working tirelessly to make this year’s dinner magical. A few days later, we will have our annual Hats and Gloves for the Homeless Sale. On January 26 of the New Year, we will have a general member meeting to discuss the proposed budget for 2025.
Our Philoptochos chapter provides many ways to get involved. Once a month, volunteers at the Carver Center, led by co-chairwomen Vicki Kyriakos and Serene Romas, assist food-insecure persons in Port Chester. Chairwoman Stephanie Madouros and volunteers prepare a meal for HOPE Community Services of New Rochelle several times a year. Our Philoptochos chapter sponsors the weekly Community Food Drive led by co-chairwomen Elizabeth Gianaris and Constance Mavrovitis. Volunteers make sandwiches that are delivered to the Grace Episcopal Church in White Plains and distributed to those in need there. Thank you to chairwoman Kathy Tzortzidis for organizing this event each month. Also, once a month, volunteers prepare and deliver a meal that feeds about 60 friends at the Oasis Shelter in New Rochelle, a ministry led by co-chairwomen Felicia Faia and Stamatia Pappas. Through our Soup Run, under the guidance of chairwoman Despina Kartson, we provide a meal and various sundry items to the homeless in Manhattan. Members of our Prison Ministry, led by co-chairwomen Despina Kartson and Stephanie Madouros, will start monthly visits to a correctional facility in Bedford to conduct spiritual classes there. Finally, since September, the Knitting for Charity group, led by Sylvia Chandras, and our Book Club led by Denise Venturas, have met several times.
Visit our Church’s website at www.holytrinitynr.org, stop by our Philoptochos bulletin board in the Church foyer, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram, for more information about what dates are available for you to participate in any of these ministries and for further information about these ministries and other events.
I wish you and your loved ones a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving!
With love,
Agathy Gerkis, Philoptochos Chapter President
avloula@gmail.com
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