Thank you for supporting IOCC in 2025!
Thanks to your generosity, IOCC continued to respond swiftly to urgent needs around the world in 2025. IOCC expanded emergency relief in the Holy Land, providing food, clean water, hygiene items, infant care supplies, and critical medical assistance to families affected by conflict. In the United States, IOCC supported disaster survivors through emotional and spiritual care following the Los Angeles County wildfires and continued long-term recovery efforts in communities in Tennessee and Florida impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as responding to flooding in Alaska.
Around the world, your support helped address ongoing humanitarian challenges. IOCC continued providing nutrition and health services to vulnerable families in Lebanon amid the socioeconomic crisis and delivered food assistance and essential aid to refugees and struggling households in Greece and beyond. These efforts are just a few examples of how your generosity brought hope, healing, and dignity to those in need throughout 2025!
IOCC Souper Bowl Sunday – There’s Still Time!
The Super Bowl is around the corner on February 8, and with the big game comes a big chance to help people in need! You can help both locally and internationally: organize a food drive in your parish to donate nonperishable goods to a local charity and collect funds for IOCC to help those around the world. Visit iocc.org/souperbowl to get more ideas and downloadable materials.
Looking for Lenten Recipes
Calling all chefs! We’re compiling Lenten resources, and we need your help! If you have any delicious fast-friendly recipes from around the world (or right here in the US), please submit them to outreach@iocc.org. We may share your recipe and name as part of IOCC’s Lenten recipe series in 2026 at iocc.org/lent.
Gaza: Offering Education and Healing to Gaza’s Youth
Samah (not her real name) is a 10-year-old girl living in a displaced persons camp in northern Gaza. After losing her father years ago, her mother became the sole caregiver for Samah and her six siblings. Repeated displacement due to conflict forced the family to flee their home in Jabalia, leaving Samah fearful, withdrawn, and cut off from school and friends. Through an IOCC-supported program, Samah enrolled in remedial education, counseling sessions, and extracurricular activities that helped her heal emotionally and return to learning. Today, Samah feels stronger, has friends again, and dreams of becoming a teacher one day. Read more about how Samah is finding hope and stability here.
US Programs Update
On January 8, we welcomed a new and dedicated AmeriCorps team that will remain in Tennessee through March, assisting with hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts. We continue to honor our commitments to Pine Island, FL, and Erwin, TN in the new year and are currently accepting volunteer groups.
For questions or to schedule a team, please visit iocc.org/actionteams or contact Krista Hamann, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteercoordinator@iocc.org or 667-331-9812.
Volunteers in Action
Thank you so much to our IOCC volunteers and for all your efforts in 2025! We are truly grateful to you and could not do our work without you. Your efforts hosting every coffee hour, presentation, kit drive, or fundraising event allows us to serve more people than we ever imagined possible. In 2025, IOCC volunteers hosted 40 fundraisers and 25 events to spread awareness of IOCC’s humanitarian work, and we can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in the new year!
Calling All IOCC Volunteers!
We want to invite you to a special one-hour virtual gathering for our Parish Representatives and dedicated volunteers on Tuesday, February 10. Outreach coordinators Sophia Kayafas and Theodora Veronis will lead Parish Representatives and volunteers from across the country in an hour-long virtual workshop to share ideas, experiences, and connect with others who are passionate about IOCC’s mission.
This call will be an opportunity to look ahead to the spring and talk through ideas for upcoming parish events and activities. Attendees will be able to learn from one another and receive support as plans are made for the months ahead. IOCC Parish Reps across the country continue to find meaningful and creative ways to engage their communities—through coffee hours, kit drives, Lenten efforts, walks, and more.
To RSVP, email us at outreach@iocc.org or visit iocc.org/parishrepworkshop.
Awareness Events
Interested in planning your own virtual or in-person event to raise awareness about IOCC? Get one on the calendar today! We’d love to help you organize, so please contact IOCC’s Outreach team at 410.243.9820 or outreach@iocc.org.
Check for updates at iocc.org/events. And thank you for partnering with us!
- February 7 – Milwaukee, WI: Wine and Cheese Reception to Benefit IOCC
- February 7 – Chicago, IL: Presentation and Kits Drive
- February 8 – Souperbowl Sunday
- February 13 – Huntington, WV: Talent Show to Benefit IOCC
- February 13-15 – Dallas, TX: Orthodox Arts and Music Festival
- February 19 – Pittsburgh, PA: Happy Hour to Benefit IOCC
- April 17 – Cleveland, OH: Bright Friday Dance for IOCC
- April 19 – Pittsburgh, PA: Bright Bites
- April 25 – Bergenfield, NJ: Wine Tasting to Benefit IOCC
- May 2 – Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh Marathon with Team IOCC
- May 5 – Pittsburgh, PA: Open House
- May 7 – Chicago, IL: Annual Banquet to Benefit IOCC
- July 11 – Grand Rapids, MI: 5K Walk/Run to Support IOCC
Stay Connected to IOCC Online!
Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and our Blog to keep up to date with IOCC news, view event photos, and get a firsthand look at how your support is changing lives around the world.
