Dear Holy Trinity Family,
As we await the birth of our Lord Jesus, the Philoptochos of Holy Trinity, continues to work steadily with the importance of “giving of ourselves” through our many Outreach ministries. We focus to help those in need, especially in a time of food insecurity that many individuals and families face throughout the year. This need of sustenance is highlighted more than ever around the holiday season. There are those souls who are ill, some that do not have shelter, children that need coats this winter and parents that don’t have the ability to buy their children a toy for Christmas.
Our community is truly blessed and I thank you all for your contributions throughout the year! Through our Philoptochos fundraisers and your generosity, we were able to assist all those needs mentioned. In October, through the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, our Team, Holy Trinity Go New Ro, raised $7,580! Also in October, the Mingo Event was a fun evening for our community and with the net profit of $3,400, our Philoptochos donated to various charities such as: Philoxenia, providing a Thanksgiving shopping list for four families, FILI, an orphanage in India, providing meals for children, Friends of Karen towards their Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, to purchase toys on children’s wish lists, Carver Center in Portchester, for a food donation for the Carver Market, and HOPE Community Services in New Rochelle, providing a donation to assist in stocking their shelves with non-perishables.
On November 6th, our volunteers served a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, prepared by our Chef Manny Louros, to cancer patients, cancer survivors and their families at Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club in White Plains. The volunteers also brought bags of non-perishables to donate to their pantry, a way for those in need to get some food assistance. On November 9th, AHEPA along with our Philoptochos celebrated Veterans Day after Liturgy and presented $1,000 worth of grocery cards to Mr. Shawn Kingston, from the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, to be distributed to Veteran families in need. Our Holy Trinity Scouts prepared thank you cards for the Veterans too!
Please support our Community Food Drive weekly by bringing in non-perishable food items for the HOPE Food Pantry of New Rochelle! Kindly fill a shopping bag and drop it off in front of the Church Office. They also accept Kosher items too!
Through our Operation Classroom Initiative, Philoptochos member, Kathy Tzortzides purchased coats to donate to children of two New Rochelle Schools on behalf of Philoptochos!
In November and December, through our Outreach ministries, our Philoptochos continued to prepare sandwiches (Grace’s Kitchen in White Plains) and hot meals (OASIS Shelter in New Rochelle). Volunteers also served over 150 hot meals at the Soup Run in NYC and specifically in December, through the Hats, Gloves & Scarf Sale, handed out these knitted items that included a handwritten card to our homeless brothers and sisters.
In November, our Philoptochos Board members participated in an Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Social Services project along with the Interfaith Prison Partnership, and prepared 20 Release Bags filled with fleece blankets, towels, and various toiletry items, for those leaving correctional facilities and going to homeless shelters.
Our Prison ministry team also visited the Taconic Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, spending time with the residents, praying and listening to them in kindness. Deacon Clifford Calanni, the Chaplain of the Prison, sent a beautiful letter, thanking our Holy Trinity Church Community for past contributions of skeins of yarn and bars of Dove soap. To quote Deacon Clifford: “Thank you for your presence, your spirit of compassion, and your belief that we can make a difference.”
We all have the ability to make a difference in someone’s life and I’m grateful as Philoptochos President to represent members that truly care and give of themselves in a generous and kind manner. To assist our organization in doing good for others, we have an annual Christmas fundraiser. The Candlelight Dinner is a highlight for all to enjoy in the merriment of the season! This year, the Candlelight Dinner will be held on December 11th in the Holy Trinity Social Hall, honoring our own Stephanie Madouros. Thank you for your many years of service to Philoptochos and our Holy Trinity Community!
Our Membership Drive will begin in January 2026! Our Proposed Budget Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 25th after Liturgy in the Daskos Room.
Please stay Connected! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website at www.holytrinitynr.org. Kindly stop by our Philoptochos bulletin board in the Church foyer to see what Philoptochos offers and how you can get involved.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Blessed Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year!
With Love and much appreciation,
Angie Lambros, Philoptochos President
Alambros22@gmail.com
