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The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation in New York closed its 19th annual International Make A Difference with Loukoumi Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a visit to the construction site of the new St. Michael’s Home in Uniondale, where the foundation pledged to raise $50,000 to create a Loukoumi Lounge.
The foundation arrived on its Loukoumi Good Deed Bus and made a pledge at the site, where construction is underway. The group toured the building, including the space where the lounge will be built, and made a $3,000 deposit toward the pledge.
The lounge is intended as a gathering place where residents can socialize and spend time with visiting volunteers and family, according to the foundation.
The new facility, which is moving from its current campus in Yonkers, is expected to be complete at the end of next year.
International Make A Difference with Loukoumi Day is held on the last Saturday of October, when children and young adults take part in service projects and acts of kindness. Over the years, the initiative has reached more than 150,000 participants in 35 countries. This year, Loukoumi Good Deed Buses also departed from Athens, Greece; Cologne, Germany; Deerfield, Illinoid; and Gander, Newfoundland.
The foundation was established by Nick Katsoris, its president, founder and executive director, and author of the Loukoumi children’s books. A foundation study published by Fordham University surveyed more than 1,000 children and young adults in 20 countries; more than 90 percent said doing good made them happier.
Katsoris himself volunteered at St. Michael’s Home with the foundation when he was a senior in high school. As a Loukoumi volunteer, Katsoris would help the residents of the Yonkers facility to their medical appointments.
“It’s really very rewarding,” Katsoris said. “What we’re doing is creating this space where people can go and spend time because some of these people are very lonely.”
Earlier in the day, participants boarded the Loukoumi Good Deed Bus at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, N.Y., and traveled to Fordham University, where panelists spoke about the meaning of charity.
Here, New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin called in: “I spent many years volunteering and in public service,” Paulin said. “Sometimes those deeds affect many, many people and sometimes just one. But no matter, it is all important.”
Paulin also spoke about her efforts to secure state funding for the Loukoumi Service Learning Curriculum in the Eastchester school district. The curriculum requires that students in schools that adopt the learning plan to participate in acts of volunteerism.
New York State Senator also joined the panel, and spoke at length about the “acts of goodness” Loukoumi stands for.
“I love hearing from students all over the world,” Shelly said. “What a credit to Loukoumi for this worldwide initiative.”
From there, the Good Deed Bus left for POTS (Part of the Solution), a Bronx organization that serves individuals and families in need. Participants donated diapers, infant formula, wipes and nonperishable food.
Students from Loukoumi Good Deed Councils at Greek Orthodox parishes and schools are raising money for the project. Participants include Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, N.Y.; St. Demetrios School in Astoria, N.Y.; Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington, N.Y.; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Bridgeport, Conn.; and the William Spyropoulos School at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, N.Y.
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