PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
September 9, 2005
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RELIEF EFFORT WORKS WITH LOCAL PARISH
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) this week sent
the first relief check to the leaders of the Baton Rouge, LA, mission
parish to be distributed to Armenian families affected by the crisis.
The $34,000 check will help provide food, clothing, and other
necessities for those affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane
Katrina.
“We are glad we’re able to do something to help, but this will not be
the last of our efforts,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Diocese. “We are offering prayers for all those whose lives have
changed and we are working to help not just our fellow Armenians, but
all those in the area.”
Additionally, Fr. Nerses Jebejian, the visiting pastor of the Baton
Rouge mission parish, will be visiting the community this weekend.
Immediately after the level of devastation became clear, the Diocese
began urging faithful to support relief efforts and offer prayers.
Local parishes have been asked to have special plate collections on
September 11 and 18. The money raised through the collections and from
individual contributions will be used to aid disaster relief efforts on
two fonts.
Half of the money raised by the Diocese will be sent directly to the
Armenians in the hard-hit areas to help them buy supplies, food, and
shelter. The other half will be given to Church World Service, the
humanitarian aid arm of the National Council of Churches, for its relief
efforts to the general population.
The area has about 70 Armenians in total — including 27 children —
comprising 23 families. While there have been no reports of loss of
life among the Armenian families in the New Orleans area, many have lost
homes and businesses. Most of the displaced Armenians are now staying
with fellow parishioners, friends, or family in Baton Rouge or La Place,
LA, according to Vasken Kaltakjian, chairman of the Baton Rouge mission
parish, who has been meeting with the displaced families to evaluate
their immediate needs.
According to Mr. Kaltakjian, the immediate need for area Armenians is to
acquire some basic items to help them get by day-to-day. Many have no
income for the foreseeable future, and are cash-poor after 11 days of
displacement from their homes. He said direct donations of clothing,
perishables, or other goods would not be helpful at this time.
You can contribute through the Diocesan website, ,
where you can click on the “Donate” link and make a credit-card donation
on our secure server. Individuals and parishes can also send checks via
mail to the Diocesan headquarters in New York (please write “Hurricane
Katrina Relief” in the memo).
— 9/9/05
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