4/27/06

Urgent Appeal to Parishes & Missions:
Romania Flood Assistance

Grass Lake MI [ROEA Chancery]  –  Over the past year, Romania has suffered greatly from devastation caused by numerous floods throughout the country.  Again, flood waters have risen out of control causing dams to be compromised and tens of thousands of hectares of farmland and villages to be flooded across the country in Oltenia (Southwest), Moldova (Northeast), Dobrogea (Southeast), and Transylvania (Central).

“Beyond the economic impact of the disaster, we realize the pain and suffering of the thousands of souls affected,” commented His Eminence, Archbishop NATHANIEL.  “We pray that the faithful of the Romanian-American community will again come to the aid of our brothers and sisters in Romania who are in great need.”

Last spring, after an appeal from His Eminence, tens of thousands of dollars were sent to Romania from ROEA parishes and missions for assistance after the floods at that time.

As a result of the most recent floods, initial assessments estimate the damage to be approximately 1/2 billion Euros.  In addition to the flooded farmland, thousands of homes are under water, thousands of kilometers of roads and rail are disabled, thousands of evacuated people remain in temporary shelters, and numerous deaths have been reported.

Due to the urgency of the need for aid, we ask that every parish and mission take a special collection for this purpose at the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, May 7.  (Donations will also be accepted after that date.)

In order to get the aid to Romania as soon as possible, we ask that all contributions be sent directly to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) at:

IOCC
Romania Flood Assistance
PO Box 630225
Baltimore MD  21263-0225

Checks payable to: IOCC
(indicate “Romania Flood Assistance” in memo)

Donations may also be made online at www.iocc.org or by calling them toll-free at 1-877-803-IOCC(4622).