International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), which is monitoring closely the situation and is in contact with its partners on the ground, has alerted its Emergency Network to be ready to mobilize if the situation warrants.
IOCC is issuing an emergency appeal with cash funds going towards immediate clean up efforts. Orthodox faithful and parishes are encouraged to begin assembling hygiene kits and emergency clean up buckets to be shipped to the Gulf Coast (for information on assembling kits go to http://iocc.org/giftsofheart.aspx).
To help in providing emergency relief, 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.
