THI Canada & THI Australia Joint End of Year Appeal for Greece

The Hellenic Initiative Canada and The Hellenic Initiative Australia have launched the End of Year Global Appeal for Greece to help provide a little joy and hope to Greek families in need this Christmas.

“THI Australia is delighted to be joining forces with THI Canada to unite the Greek diaspora to support families experiencing hardship in Greece,” said Stergitsa Zamagias-Hill, THI Australia’s Chief Executive Officer.

Similarly, THI Canada expressed its excitement to be partnering with THI Australia for the first time stating, “The End of Year Global Appeal for Greece seeks to bring some warmth and happiness to the many Greek families struggling this holiday season. We are working together for the common good of these families and what better period to collaborate than the holiday season, which is the season of…giving.”

Hellenic Initiative committed through appeal to stand by Greece

DESMOS Foundation, a trusted partner charity, will ensure the funds raised can address the food needs and heating costs for Greek families living outside of Athens with the Desmos Gives Food Aid and Desmos Gives Warmth programs.

Desmos has previously collaborated with both THI Canada and THI Australia, including their recent work with THI Canada to provide olive oil directly to the houses of many Greeks who suffered during the Greek wildfires in 2021.

THI Canada and THI Australia are committed to standing by Greece and its people for as long as their continued support is required.

According to a recent study by Poverty Watch Greece, it is estimated that over 3 million people in Greece are living in dire conditions – roughly one third of the country’s total population. What is more, one in four children live in a household at a high risk of facing poverty.

What makes these numbers stand out more is that a modest gift can make a difference.

$35 can provide olive oil for a family for six months.

$75 can help cover the purchase of very basic food items, such as lentils, beans, rice, pasta, evaporated milk, barley and rusks, for a family of four for one month.

$150 can secure additional necessities, including dairy items, meats, fruits and vegetables, for a month.

“It will be inspiring to see the global Greek diaspora show their generosity once again by making a donation, small and large, to THI Australia and THI Canada before Christmas,” said Ms. Zamagias-Hill.

If you’re in Canada, you can donate by following the link here.

If you’re in Australia, you can donate by following the link here.

THI Canada was founded in the summer of 2016 to add Canada’s contribution to this urgent need for help. The organization aims to marshal the well-known generosity of Canadians to help families, including the elderly, in this time of crisis primarily through private and public solicitations.

Virtually, all funds raised in Canada are directed to the relief agencies that THI Canada has partnered with in Greece.

The Hellenic Initiative Australia (THI Australia) was formed in 2014 and is a national, not-for-profit organization uniting and empowering Greek Australians and philhellenes to support recovery and renewal in Greece.

THI Australia is helping to build a bright and secure future for Greece by partnering with innovative NGOs in Greece to deliver programs that provide immediate social, health, and economic benefits in an effort to make a lasting impact on Greek society.

Related: Hellenic Initiative’s Gala Raises More Than $2.2 Million For Greek Causes