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Summertime is a time for vacationing and spending our hard-earned money on enjoyable, recreational activities. With beautiful weather and time away from school and the office, many of us seem to forget that there are still people in our country, the Diaspora and our homeland in need of our financial help.  Millions of people worldwide cannot enjoy their summers as  we can because they are struggling each and every day just to survive.

Fr. Vahan and the Parish Council are thankful to those parishioners who came forward during the summer months with their financial donations to support two specific communities in need.  In the June issue of the NARREC a special request for donations was extended to help support the Catholicos Karekin II Work Project. This project is a partnership of Habitat for Humanity Armenia with the Armenian Apostolic Church to help combat poverty housing in Armenia. As stated previously, $6400 is the cost to fund the building of one home in our homeland for our impoverished and displaced brothers and sisters. Many thanks are sent to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Peters who answered our call and donated $6400 for the construction of one home in the name of Holy Martyrs Church.  Their generous contribution will surely brighten the life of a special family. Please consider donating any amount that you can to this wonderful humanitarian project. The more homes built in our homeland, the more lives we can brighten!

On Sunday, August 13, 2006, per the directive of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, a special second plate collection was held in support of our fellow Armenians in Lebanon, in view of the recent political strife in the country. Our parish collected $712 during Badarak services that day. As Lebanon continues to recover from the devastation of the past few weeks, any additional funds are welcome for this humanitarian effort. All monies collected will be forwarded to the Fund for Armenian Relief at the Armenian Diocese (Eastern) for “Middle East Relief Efforts.

As we conclude our summer months and return to our schools and activities, please remember that people in need do not have the luxuries that we all are blessed to enjoy. The comfort of a home, food, clothing, medication and living in a country not under direct siege are all gifts that we are fortunate to have. Any one wishing to make a donation to any of these humanitarian projects can forward a check to the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs. Please indicate which project you wish to support in the area entitled “special memo”.

Many thanks in advance for helping our brothers and sisters worldwide who are in financial need.