"With Agape" Holy Cross Philoptochos Award Winning Project

"With Agape"
By Contributing Writer Angel Brock

Imagine, if you can, during the season of the greatest feast day in the Greek Orthodox Church, being in the hospital. As if that weren't lonely enough, you are also a child, away from your family and friends and unable to run and play in the sunshine!

This touched the heart of Father Dean Hountalas, Protopresbyter of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan and spiritual leader of its Philoptochos and inspired him in the year 2000 to spearhead an Easter basket project, "With Agape" to make and deliver Easter baskets to residents of Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit (CMH).

That first year, Irene (Fields) Katsias and her partner in community services, Niki Angelas, under the leadership of then Philoptochos president, Elaine Orlow, and past president, Chrysoula Kyriakopoulos enthusiastically coordinated efforts by Philoptochos and other church members and community businesses to donate new items, assemble and deliver 228 baskets to CHM.

Since that time, "With Agape" has sprouted wings and has expanded every year to include GOYA, Sunday School, the Parish Council, the entire church body as well as Boy and Girl Scout Troops, senior citizens and local students in need of community service hours to assist with the making and delivery of Easter baskets. Also, the number of baskets has grown each succeeding year, reaching a cumulative total of almost 3000! Now in addition to CHM, baskets have been delivered to underprivileged children, the Neighborhood House in Farmington, Haven (a shelter for abused women and their children) foster children and even to handicapped adults.

Holy Cross Philoptochos was recognized @ the 2004 National Philoptochos Biennial Convention and given a certificate for Best Outreach Project for "With Agape."

Besides the ongoing Easter baskets, the Holy Cross Philoptochos "With Agape" project is branching out, partnering with GOYA to include: an ongoing, all during the year food drive; soup kitchen and nursing home visits and sending Christmas gift certificates to St. Basil children and phone cards to soldiers in Iraq. The Philoptochos chairs for these projects are, respectively: Pelly Dallas, Cally Angelas and the trio of Maria Heller, Cathy Keros and Kathy Zervos. Their GOYA partners/ Philoptochos "little sisters" are: Alexandra McKendrick (her sister, Anastasia is the youngest Philoptochos member) Sarah Gehan and Ana and Marysa Kotsogiannis. The entire church body is encouraged to participate, and is eager to do so.

"With Agape" is a labor of love for Holy Cross Philoptochos and we feel very blessed to serve many of Christ's children, many of who would otherwise be forgotten!

This year baskets will be delivered to Children's Hospital and the Neighborhood House on Holy Tuesday, April 3, 2007. Those interested in contributing to the project are encouraged to contact, Holy Cross Philoptochos/Easter Basket Project, 25225 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, MI 48336, 248-477-1677.

Malista!