Philoptochos

 

The Ladies Philoptochos Society is the main philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodx Church. Philoptochos is composed of local, diocesan and national memberships and is the second largest women's religious charitable organization in the United States. It is represented at the United Nations on the Economic and Social Council.

Philoptochos is a transliteration of the actual Greek word meaning "friends of the poor". In our local chapter of Philoptochos at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church we contribute to national and local organizations to help our community.
Nationally we support social services, the Children's Cardiac Fund, Hellenic College/Holy Cross, Cancer Fund, Foreign Missions, IOCC, and the Ecumenical Patiarchate.

At the diocese level we support the St. Spyridon Fund, Rose City Camp, Emergency Relief Fund and diocese scholarships.

Locally, in the Lansing area, we support the food bank, Local Crippled Children Chapter, Loaves and Fishes Shelter, Capital Area Center for Independent Living, CADA, Holy Dormition Monastery, Hospice, City Rescue Mission, among others.

Within the parish, we support our own Odyssey and Sunday school programs. We also frequently contribute to miscellaneous church maintenance and repair. We host several fundraisers per year, mainly the well known Athenian Luncheon and Bake Sale every November. We also host coffee hours, potlucks, and dinner dances to provide our parish community opportunities to socialize.

Members of the Board of Philoptochos are:

Glykeria Christofilis
Diane Dellis
Ethna Haggerty
Frances Katsiris
Irene Kontis
Nancy Malvetis - Advisor
Olga Pascalenos - Treasurer
Ina Samra
Eleanor Spaulding - Secretary
Martha Stathopoulos
Soussana Tesseris - President
Koula Tzoumakas
Mary Volakakis - Vice President
Tamara Wright

General meetings are the third Monday of every month, 7:30pm, in the Small Social Room at the church.
Board meetings are the third Monday of every month, 6:30, usually in the Small Social Room at the church.