AGBU MDS partners with FCN Humanitarian Aid Program

Focus on Children Now, Inc. and AGBU MDS partner to help disadvantaged children and their families with humanitarian aid

For Immediate Release ~ June 23, 2008
Contact: FCN ~ 818-554-8832 ~ info@fcnorg.com

Los Angeles, CA – June 23, 2008  – In 2007, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Manoogian Demirdjian School Board of Trustees granted a local NGO, Focus on Children Now, INC. permission to place two collection boxes on the school premises for the purpose of gathering clothing and school supplies donations from the school community.

Upon success of clothing collection efforts, both FCN and AGBU MDS members decide to expand and build upon this constructive relationship by further involving AGBU MDS students and their parents with FCN’s Humanitarian Aid Program. The goal was for the program to have an immediate and positive impact upon the lives of our brothers and sisters in Armenia.

Consequently, every month, the AGBU MDS High School students and their parents committed to participate and help organize, pack and label the articles of clothing and school supplies obtained from the donation boxes located on the school grounds. In addition, participating students can get credit towards their HS community service objective.

To date (June 21, 2008) the AGBU MDS drives have resulted in 342 boxes, containing over 35,000 articles including clothing for adults, children, teenagers and young adults (17 to 22 years old). They also packed beddings (blanket, linen, pillow, comforter) ladies handbags, diapers, adult protection undergarments, sheet under-pads, medical supplies, shoes and toys.

The success and impact of this program is epic. If we were to distribute 5 pieces of articles per person, 342 boxes containing over 35,000 articles, will touch over 7,000 disadvantaged children, young adults, elderly and their families. 

On February of 2008, the boxes packed at AGBU MDS were shipped to Armenia and delivered to American Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), and other non-profit/charitable organizations. All the articles have already been distributed among disadvantaged children and their families, orphanages, special schools, nursing homes and soup kitchens in the capital city and throughout the country.

AGBU junior students got to experience the full cycle of this program during their juniors’ trip to Armenia last July, when they personally distributed the articles collected and packed at AGBU MDS, to students at the ORRAN center in Yerevan.

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