2006 "Tree of Blessings" Charity Project Concludes

The 2006 "Tree of Blessings" Charity Project, which was introduced throughout National A.R.O.Y. for the first time this year, has come to an end.  All chapters are reminded to send one-half (1/2) of the total donations they collected to National A.R.O.Y. as soon as possible so that the contributions can be forwarded to this year's recipient, the "Saint Dimitrie" Addiction Treatment Program in Romania.

Selected by the National A.R.O.Y. Board as the recipient of this year's project, the "Saint Dimitrie" Program was started and is continued through the efforts of Mr. Floyd Frantz, who became interested in serving as an Orthodox missionary in 1998 after attending a presentation that Orthodox Christian Missions Center (O.C.M.C.) missionaries Fr. James (Craig) and Victoria Goodwin presented at his church.  Their report about the high level of addiction among the young people in Romania interested Mr. Frantz, who happens to be an addictions counselor.  He has been working through the O.C.M.C. and the Romanian Orthodox Church since his return to Cluj in 2000.  Working under Christiana, a social action program of the Church, his alcohol and drug addiction programs are both well-known and accepted by the community and Church.  The overall goal of the program is to treat the whole person - physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

It has been difficult to establish such programs due to the general lack of awareness of the disease concept of alcoholism within Romanian society.  These obstacles are being overcome through a counselor training program, community education, 12-step oriented recovery treatment programs, training of doctors and clergy in addictions counseling, and other initiatives.  The Saint Dimitrie Program also sponsors Casa Maria, a spiritual renewal center near Cluj where people can seek treatment and which also serves as temporary shelter for homeless people involved in the treatment programs.

CLICK HERE to read more about the Saint Dimitrie Project and the O.C.M.C.

We thank everyone who helped make this year's "Tree of Blessings" Project a success for the benefit of the good works of our fellow Orthodox Christians!