Holy Trinity - San Francisco, CA The dance groups from Holy Trinity sang Christmas carols to shut-in parishoners with Holy Trinity's "For Our Seniors" ministry, built care packages for the homeless with the "Socks of Love" ministry, and several members took part to join other churches with Project Mexico.
St.Katherine - Elk Grove, CA - Nea Parea The Nea Parea Dance Group encouraged families, children and teens in their Parish to donate gently used clothing to share with children and teens within their greater local community. Nea Parea collected close to 50 bags of much needed children/teen clothing during the last two Sunday's in January. The clothing was shared with the St. Joseph s Mobile Mall in Clarksburg.
St. Katherine - Chandler, AZ Together the dancers made friendship bracelets called "Be Brave Bracelets." The bracelets will be donated to the Child Life Department of a local children's hospital, so that they can be handed out to the children receiving treatment to give them something little to smile about and as a reminder to be brave! The dancers also made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for their teddy bear picnic. The dancers traded peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for stuffed animals to donate to the Chandler fire department to be used for children in crisis. The extra peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were donated to the homeless shelter.
Church of the Assumption - Seattle, WA Levendya Levendya gathered donations of crayons, coloring books, puzzles, games, rattles, stuffed animal and blankets to donate to Seattle Children's Hospital for the kids to enjoy.
Annunciation Cathedral San Francisco, CA The dance groups To Mellon, Thisavri, and Spithes collected toys and delivered them to Lefty O'Doul's in the heart of San Francisco's Union Square on Christmas Eve in celebration of Lefty O'Doul's Annual Christmas Toy Drive. Dancers from Annunciation Cathedral also helped serve turkey dinners to the homeless of San Francisco.
St. Katherine Redondo Beach, CA The dance groups donated 40 brand new pajamas to a local shelter, just in time for the holidays. The pajamas ranged in size so they could fit boys and girls of all ages, from toddlers to late teens.
St. Demetrios Camarillo, CA The Agape Dancers visited a local senior center in Camarillo in December to bring cheer to the residents by singing Christmas Carols and visiting with them for an hour during their lunch. They also shared our heritage and passion for who we are by taking part in Greek Night at another Senior Center in Newbury Park. During the night the group entertained the residents by performing a suite of dances and afterwards visited with the residents.
Church of the Holy Cross Belmont, CA Thavma Dance Group from the Church of the Holy Cross in Belmont hosted children from a local receiving home. The dancers spent time with young and teenage children decorating Christmas trees, playing basketball, and partaking in a fun game of Scattergories. Money was raised in order to buy Christmas gifts for all the children.
St. John the Baptist Anaheim, CA The Greek Dance Families support Blessings in a Backpack with very generous donations to provide much needed help to local families over the holiday season. For some families even the basic home essentials we all take for granted are in short supply. The families collect and donate food items and basic household items just to name a few.
St. John the Baptist Las Vegas During the Christmas season the Folk Dance ministry goes around the community singing carols in Greek and English. This year they visited a few senior communities, including one parishioner who had no family in Las Vegas of his own.
Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Fresno, CA Every Thanksgiving, Christmas, & Easter, St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno California and the youth from its GOYA, dance and choral groups, collect and distribute, by hand, holiday gift boxes to families in need. Each box contained a complete meal including a holiday turkey or ham. 20 families on average are impacted by this ministry at each of these three holidays. In addition to the meals, they adopted upwards of 150 children in the local school district who are in need, and provided them with Christmas gifts.
St. Spyridon Church San Diego, CA All children were participants in the St. Spyridon Angels Christmas Party! Prior to making their visit to the foster care facility, the dancers spent time collecting needed items and made stockings to be delivered during their visit. While at the facility, the Dancers took part in face painting, giving manicures and playing games with the foster children. The event also included Greek dancing and singing Christmas carols for kids!
Holy Trinity Portland, OR Holy Trinity dancers decorated cards to give to some of the shut-ins in their community! Both dance groups, Paradosis and Anatoli, came together in fellowship to complete the project!
St. Anthony Pasadena, CA Dance program members had the opportunity to participate at Ability First's International Day. Ability First provides programs and special needs services to children and adults with disabilities. Members of the Filarakia, Spitha, and Pyrkagia dance groups participated in the event and enjoyed teaching the dances to Ability First clients. Dance group members also had the opportunity to serve clients of Union Station. Union Station Homeless Services helps homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. Dance members helped plate and serve dinner, as well as clean up and wash dishes afterwards.
Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Los Angeles, CA Dance groups Fourtouna, Trikimia, Sinefakia, and Keravnos filled boxes with items for young vulnerable children for Operation Christmas Child for the 8th year. Saint Sophia Dance Ministry volunteered at the Annual Jeffrey Foundation Christmas Party. The dance group Keravnos set up and served lunch and passed out Christmas gifts for 150 special needs children.
Holy Trinity Cathedral Phoenix, AZ Dancers from Holy Trinity held a toy/book drive and donated them to a children's orphanage.
St. Basil San Juan Capistrano, CA Eftihia and Paralia are fundraising to make a donation to the Starfish foundation.
Annunciation Parish Sacramento, CA Annunciation dance groups joined together to support the parish s Philoptochos charity, Blessings in a Backpack. The dancers brought donations of juice, fruit, pop tarts, pasta, pudding and more. Then they lined up to take turns filling each back pack with one of every item and packed them into large bins to be driven to the school the next day and handed out to the children.
Sts. Constantine & Helen Cardiff by the Sea, CA Dancers gave their time to Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage. Throughout the year, dance groups, Opalakia, Neo Kyma and Armonia collected quarterly goods, housekeeping items, clothing and other items that were needed. Dance groups Armonia and Neo Kyma went into the day of service and had a great time repainting the boys bedrooms. Highlights of the day included seeing the dance group interact with the boys from the orphanage. They played soccer together, shared Spanish/English with each other, and enjoyed the exchange of culture.
Ascension Cathedral Oakland, CA Dancers from Oakland were Santa s Helpers to St. Innocent Orphanage of Project Mexico. They provided new school clothes and shoes for one of the boys at the orphanage as well as a wish list toy. They also provided handmade Christmas cards and friendship bracelets, stocking stuffers and a movie night for all 22 boys at the orphanage.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Long Beach, CA Dancers from Long Beach raised funds to benefit the children of Samos who are suffering during Greece's economic crisis. They also donated over 50 bags of much needed toiletries to the Long Beach Rescue Mission. They also made holiday cards for the patients at the Long Beach Veterans Medical Center. These patients are hospitalized during the holidays with no family or friends for support.