Hellenic Relief Foundation

Thank you to GREEK NEWS, INC. for highlighting our latest food distribution! . . # #iggreece #greeksnews #hellenic #hellenicrelief #hellenicrelieffoundation #athens #athina #athensgreece #greece #greekamerican

Anamniseis article about our March food distribution. Our continued support from the press is vital to spreading the word on our events and monthly distributions. Thank you to Anamniseis for their continued support! #hellenicrelief. . . #athens # # #greeknewspaper #greek #hellenic #hellenicrelieffoundation #ig_greece #ig_athens #athensgreece #athina

On the week celebrating 200 years since the Greek War of Independence, at the #HellenicReliefFoundation and their partner organization's headquarters in #Athens, the H.R.F.'s monthly food distribution took place, in partnership with the Social Committee of the Athenian Society. Throughout the distribution, around 360 food packages were distributed to their beneficiaries, which included the H.R.F.'s monthly basic food staples, as well as non-perishables (oil, pastas, legumes, ...flour, etc.). This month's parcels were supplemented by canned stuffed grape leaves, cereals, toasts, olives, soda, chips, and Lenten sweets, complements of various Greek companies. In addition to the distribution to their beneficiaries, food packages were also given to the Mutual Assistance Fund for Retired Actors (), the Meropeio Nursing Home of Athens, the Special Needs School of Piraeus, and to the parish of the Transfiguration of our Savior Church. Also, prescribed medicine for the beneficiaries was also provided, while the company Agrovim offered gift receipts for food purchases to large families and single-parent homes. Corporate donors for this distribution included the N. Konstantopoulou Group, Agrovim, Palirria, Food Bank, Coca-Cola, Loulis Mills, and Atlanta. The distribution was organized under the direction of Ms. Maria Siourdi, director of the H.R.F's partner organization, and with the assistance of volunteers Soula Belli, Antonia Pantouvaki, and Fotis Panagiotakopoulos. #hellenic # #greece #hellenicrelief #athensgreece #

Happy 200 Years of Independence, Greece! . . . . #200yearsofgreekindependence #hellenic #hellenicrelief #hellenicrelieffoundation #greekindependenceday #25march #greekamerican #greece #hellas #athens #

It was on February 25th, nine years ago, that Prokopi Zervas and I were sitting in a corner of the square in front of the Varvakio market of #Athens, quietly watching a big crowd of destitute individuals waiting on a line to get a large bag of food items. Three months prior, a woman spoke on a Greek-American radio, Cosmos FM, about the extensive social issues engulfing Greece. Her words were so deeply affecting, that a group of us decided to take some much needed action. We e...stablished a non-profit organization, and raised funds from within, with Mrs. Mary Vasilakou, a veteran teacher, being the first donor. By mid-February of 2012, we headed to Greece. We found volunteers, and on February 25th, 2012 the first food distribution took place. It was an unprecedented experience that created feelings of sweet sorrow as we were seeing poverty firsthand, coming face to face with individuals who had a myriad of needs, as we realized that we were fortunate enough to be in a position to help. With the support of the New York omogenia's media, our activities and procedures became immediately widely known, and with this a river of support began to flow. The initiative of a group of acquaintances, who at the time thought their purpose was to help those in need for a few months, until the crisis died down, with the generous support of the #Greek diaspora and the subsidies of companies located in #Greece, has become an ongoing effort to help the disadvantaged. Aid in kind distributed, mostly food and essential items, have surpassed one million dollars in value. And as soon as we thought the crisis was under control, and Greece was returning to a sense of normalcy, the coronavirus knocked down many doors. So this group, named #HellenicReliefFoundation, that was formed with the hope of its help being needed for a short period, is continuing to this day with a sense of joy and sadness - just like that sun drenched day of February 25th, 2012. -Stelios Taketzis #hellenic #hellenicrelieffoundation # #hellenicrelief See more