Small Initiatives Can Create Big Results Through IOCC!!
There are times that although we would like to help, we feel overwhelmed by the needs of our fellow human beings close to us and around the world! Yet, a small initiative can create big results, through the special programs of IOCC. Your donation can go a long way, and it gets multiplied by the time it reaches out to those in need!
New Equipment Fuels Small Business Expansion in Greece
Manolis is a young business owner from Greece and father to a 10-year-old boy. While he holds degrees in both financial sciences and psychology, his true passion is cooking. Manolis trained at several culinary schools in Europe, where he then found work as a chef in fine hotels and restaurants.
Manolis, however, missed his native Greece. He returned to his hometown in the Thessaly region, along with his son, where he rented a tiny kitchen to develop minimally processed, nutritious food. Along with two employees, he crafted a menu specifically tailored to dietary needs, including organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free foods.
Over the next two years, Manolis ran headfirst into the difficulties of starting and running a small business — especially in a troubled Greek economy. He didn’t even take a salary at the time. “Sometimes,” Manolis said, “I thought about quitting. Although the products are healthy … they were difficult to promote, and expenses kept rising.” Then he heard about a community program that supports small businesses and micro enterprises through IOCC and local partner, Apostoli. Through this program, Manolis was able to receive specialized equipment to help boost production, including an industrial blender and commercial oven capable of baking, steaming, and dehydrating several kinds of food.
Using his new equipment, Manolis increased his productivity and even created a new product line. His reputation grew. Then one day a customer visited town and tasted Manolis’s delicious food. “He was so impressed,” Manolis recalled, “that he proposed investing in my business. I worked harder and harder, and with his investment we created a fully equipped laboratory … [even] extending our sales abroad.” Manolis expressed his gratitude, saying, “IOCC’s assistance during a difficult time helped me continue my work creating nutritious products for individuals with special dietary requirements and needs.”
His success story is just one of many. Working closely with the Apostoli since 2015, IOCC has helped more than 175 microbusinesses and agricultural associations throughout Greece with over $2 million invested in new production equipment, technical services, and business mentoring — improving productivity and profitability, and helping them become sustainable employers in their communities.
IOCC Hurricane Response -
With $1 Million in Support Raised So Far,
Rebuilding Will Continue Through 2026
On September 27, Hurricane Helene struck the southeastern US with devastating force causing catastrophic damage to homes, businesses, and communities. Immediately after the storm, IOCC field staff were on the ground conducting assessments to determine the most effective means of response. As initial recovery work was underway in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida, tragically, less than two weeks later, Milton, a category 3 hurricane, made landfall in Florida causing storm surges, flooding, and tornados.
IOCC was able to quickly expand its response to the areas affected by Milton. To date, staff and volunteers have spent over 1,100 hours cleaning up and mucking out homes, as IOCC Frontliners provided emotional and spiritual care to survivors, including to the Orthodox parish communities. IOCC also sent over 100 clean-up buckets to partners in Florida for additional help. Cleanup and muck-out work will continue through March, at which point efforts shift to long-term recovery activities including home repairs, rebuilding, and continuing emotional care. As with most crises, emergency response is critical, but recovery requires extended commitment — and thanks to generous donor support, IOCC will be able to provide that assistance. IOCC recently announced that it had met its initial $1 million fundraising goal. US Country Representative Archdeacon Paul Zaharas shared, “The funds provided by IOCC’s donors make our recovery work possible, and give momentum to the ongoing hurricane relief efforts, which we’ve projected into 2026.”
Help Us Provide for Those in Need!
And remember, 92 cents of every dollar you give goes to our humanitarian work. The other 8 cents is for administration and fundraising costs. Charity Navigator gives IOCC a 4-star rating (highest possible) for financial health, accountability and transparency. Plus, every dollar you give helps us secure $7 more in support from governments, foundations, and other sources.
IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has delivered $650 million in relief and development programs to families and communities in more than 50 countries. IOCC is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy. To learn more about IOCC, please visit our website at iocc.org
Yiannis Apostolakis
