LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY     The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, the official philanthropic organization of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, was established in November 1931, by the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, who was then serving as Archbishop of North and South America . The members of the National Board of Philoptochos are dedicated church women who offer countless hours to the philanthropic, humanitarian, and Christian mission of the Church. There are 475 Philoptochos chapters in the United States . The structure of the Philoptochos includes the National Board, Metropolitan Boards, and Chapters in every parish of the Archdiocese.       Our parish established its Philoptochos Chapter in 2004. Since its establishment, we have been blessed with our parishioners support and participation. We contribute to Metropolis and Archdiocese charity endeavors, as well as various local outreach efforts. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Julie Skouteris, 770/253-2722, Chapter President. National Philoptochos Society Commitments and Programs Academy of St. Basil Autism Assistance Fund Cancer Fund Children's Medical Fund Ecumenical Patriarchate National Philoptochos Emergency Fund General Medical Fund Hellenic College & Holy Cross School of Theology International Orthodox Christian Charities National Sisterhood of Presvyteres Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Orthodox Christian Mission Center and Support a Mission Priest Saint Photios Shrine Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Founders Fund Social Services United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund   Local Commitments and Programs Fayette County DFCS Fayette Samaritans Operation Homefront One Roof Outreach Ministry St. John the Wonderworker Loaves & Fishes Program           Our Philoptochos members provide philanthropy to these and other special ministries. Your support helps us fulfill our mission as Orthodox Christian women and men and we express our appreciation for your assistance. The Patron Saints of our National Philoptochos Society are Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenaries. They remembered on November 1st. They were brothers who healed sickness and illness without charging their patients, and for this they are called "Unmercenaries." In emulation, our Philoptochos members contribute to the "needs of the poor" - hence the name of their charity - Philoptochos - Greek for "friends of the poor."

PHILOPTOCHOS HANDS OF LOVE       Thank You for your donations each month to assist the various philanthropic missions and charities we support. On the second Sunday of each month, we collect clothing/food items and on the fourth Sunday of each month, we collect monetary contributions to support various outreach ministries. May God bless our efforts to assist those in need.     Thank You for your Hands of Love!   Our upcoming collections include:   May, 2010 - One Roof Outreach (toiletries, personal hygience items, detergents, feminine products and non-perishable food items)   June, 2010 - Operation Homefront (monetary donations)   July, 2010 - St. John the Wonderworker Loaves & Fishes Program (canned goods and non-perishable food items)   August, 2010 - Fayette Samaritans  (cleaning supplies and personal care items)   September, 2010 - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (monetary donations)   October, 2010 - One Roof Outreach Ministry (new underwear - all sizes, and new or used towels, washcloths, dish clothes and towels, pots and pans, spatulas, can openers)   November, 2010 - Fayette County DFCS (to be announced)   December, 2010 - St. John the Wonderworker "Grant Park Christmas Basket Program" (collect food boxes and toys for the children and hats and gloves for adults and gifts for teenagers)

Our Newly Published Philoptochos Cookbook Available Now! Our Philoptochos Society has completed its new Cookbook, entitled Let's Eat GREEK, Y'all! It is available for sale now. All proceeds will be contributed to charity.  It includes 380 recipes from our parishioners and their families, and we appreciate our parishioners' tremendous support in sharing family recipes. For additional information, please telephone our Cookbook Chairman, Cynthia Cromartie, at 770/487-7384 or email her at cynthiacromartie@bellsouth.net. We appreciate your great assistance.     Sample Pages . . .                           St. Christopher Church Greek Appetizers/Baklava Sale Click to download order form for Greek Appetizers/Desserts for your holiday gift giving. All proceeds benefit our Philoptochos Society's local and national charities. (Philoptochos is our philanthropic organization and means "friends of the poor.")    Greek Appetizer & Dessert Fundraising Sale Greek Appetizer and Dessert Sale   Spanakopita                                      $ 10.00 dozen  Tiropita                                              $ 10.00 dozen Kourambiethes                                  $ 15.00 dozen   Baklava                                              $18.00 dozen   Order Deadline - Monday, November 1, 2010 Please arrive for pickup on Friday, November 19th, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. or Saturday, November 20th, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. After this date, please telephone Helen Psihountas, 770/486-6580 to place order(s) and arrange pick-up. Click here to download 2010 Order Form   LET FREEDOM RING IN A VERY WARM WAY Quilts for Soldiers Project The Ladies Philoptochos Society has completed making quilts for our American soldiers and their families. Project Chairman, Presbytera Marinda Tsahakis thanks all our ladies who loaned their sewing machines for this project, along with all those who quilted, tied, and assisted in so many valuable ways. The wool for the backs was donated by Coldwater Creek. We completed a total of 15 quilts. We had some of our men from the parish assist and are grateful to them as well. The quilts were sent to Operation Homefront and to Soldiers Angels. All supplies, including the use of sewing machines were donated. For additional information, please contact Presbytera Marinda Tsahakis, 770/381-1842.

Click Here for 2009 Outreach Efforts   2008 Outreach Efforts St. Christopher’s Philoptochos Society  v   Raised $4,500.00 at Vasilopita Dinner to benefit St. Basil’s Academy v   Raised $380.00 at Chicken Dinner v   Raised $520.00 at our Tea v   Held Go Red Sunday to bring awareness to Women’s Heart Disease v   Signed up 42 members which includes 10 men v   Sponsored Palm Sunday Luncheon v   Sponsored Mothers & Fathers Day Luncheons v   Purchased 2 OFC Connect Kits for our 2 graduating seniors v   Gave donation towards National Philoptochos Luncheon held in Washington DC v   2 Philoptochos Board members attended National Philoptochos Conference in Washington, DC v   Sent $400.00 to St. John the Baptist in Cedar Rapids Iowa to help victims of flooding v   Created and started College Outreach ministry v   Created Outreach Request Application v   Created Hands of Love ministry which has supported; Operation Homefront, Fayette County DFCS , Fayette Samaritans, St. John the Wonderworker Loaves & Fishes program and our newest addition One Roof of Coweta County v   Helped with the Fayette County Alzheimer’s Walk v   Donated $200.00 to Fayette Family DFCS for Thanksgiving Outreach v   Held two very successful Greek Appetizer’s & Baklava Sales v   Collected items for and sent 50 Health Kits to the IOCC v   Collected toys, coats, hats, gloves, scarves for Christmass outreach at St. John the Wonderworker Church in Atlanta v   Purchased 6 new altar boy robes      In 2008 our chapter gave through commitments to the Metropolis of Atlanta and National Philoptochos along with the other charities that we support including One Roof, St. John the Wonderworker Loaves & Fishes program, Fayette Samaritans, Operation Homefront and Fayette County DFCS a total of $9,509.96.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!