Philoptochos Projects

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying some of the beautiful Fall days we have had. You may have thought that we were off to a slow start this year, because I have been quite and not as communicative as I have been in the past, but you would have been wrong!

The Philoptochos Board has been very active and we hope you are anxious to be a part of everything we have been planning as well. The tutoring at Louis-Agasis is getting ready to start, but there is still time to get involved if you would like to work with the students there. We are still looking for people to help with the Monthly meals that we prepare and take to the Bridge School for their lunch, just once each month. This is not at big time or money investment, but the joy you get from seeing the appreciation from the students and teachers is immeasurable!

The St. Demetrios Day Luncheon is fast approaching on Wednesday, October 26th and tickets need to be sold for it to be a successful fund raiser for us. The Vesper Coffee hour the night before is being chaired by Vanthe Palllam, and it is up to all of us to provide the desserts and service that evening. Please let Vanthe know if you can help with a baked item or to help serve that night. If you would like tickets for the Luncheon, email me or call Dora Selos.

Our Holiday Bake Sale is getting ready to start baking soon and accept orders for the coming Holidays. Irene Steffas and Diane Missirlis are co-chairs this year and would love to have you help in the baking. Let them know when you are available. Our long awaited Cookbook is moving it's way off to the printers in the coming days! Thank you to Crystal and all of her hard working committee!!!

The Food Pantry has been seeing alot of use in the past few weeks and could use some stocking.

Health Circle

The purpose of the Health Circle is to sponsor educational health programs for our community and to organize volunteers to assist in health programs that serve the greater Cleveland community. The first initiative is scheduled for May 1 and 2. A group of St. Demetrios volunteers will take part in the 2nd MedWorks Health Clinic. This program provides free health care to uninsured and underinsured people throughout greater Cleveland. Other ideas? Informational health and wellness programs during coffee hours, health fairs and screenings, etc.

Literacy Circle

The Literacy Circle is dedicated to increasing literacy throughout the greater Cleveland community. Its first initiative is a partnership between St. Demetrios volunteers and the Louis Agassiz Elementary School, a public school in Cleveland. St. Demetrios has an ongoing tutoring program. Volunteers donate one hour of their time once a week to work with a child, helping him/her to prepare for the State of Ohio exams at the end of the school year. In addition, the St. Demetrios Community collects clothing and school supplies for the students.
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The second initiative of the Literacy Circle is a partnership with the Bridge Avenue School. The Bridge Avenue School is a small private Christian middle school on the near West Side of Cleveland that serves previously unsuccessful students. The school focuses on reading, math, and science for students who have previously struggled in these areas, and the school has proven results. The school seeks volunteers to tutor students and provide lunches for the students. Monetary donations are also welcomed. Currently, St. Demetrios volunteers provide lunch for the students once a month. Lunch may be the only healthy meal the children have each day. With additional community support, St. Demetrios could join forces with the Blessings in a Backpack Program to provide healthy meals for the children on the weekends. This would require a total community effort.

There is also an ongoing effort to help the family of one of the eighth grade graduates at The Bridge Avenue School. In the past year, this family lost one child to Leukemia and another in a fire, which also destroyed the family home and all their possessions. Donations are being collected and a drive is in process to help find and renovate a new home for the family.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Louis Agassiz School or The Bridge Street School should contact Janine Lambros.

Social Services Circle

Check back soon for information on our new St. Demetrios Food Pantry.

Social Services are the heart and soul of Phloptochos. We are dedicated to including more hands-on projects and assistance. Philoptochos has always delivered baskets to shut-ins at Christmas and Easter and donated Thanksgiving dinners for needy families. The Circle’s first initiative is to establish the St. Demetrios Food Pantry. Other ideas? Visitations to shut-ins; assisting with the Rocky River Meals on Wheels Program; Sunday dinners at St. Herman’s, etc.

Spiritual Enrichment

The Spiritual Enrichment Circle plans lectures and spiritual programs to educate the community in the faith and to strengthen us as a community.

Warm Up America

Warm Up America was our very first Circle, and it has been incredibly successful. A group of ladies meets several times a month to knit and crochet blankets and scarves for shut-ins, for our servicemen and women abroad, and for the Indian tribes in New Mexico.