ARS’s Lebanon Relief Efforts Making a Difference
With $20,000 already donated and another $10,000 on the way,
the ARS, Inc. and its entities are responsible for bringing
immediate help and relief to Armenians and non-Armenians
alike whose lives have been disrupted by recent attacks on
Lebanon.
Care packages to needy Armenian individuals and families
living in battered neighborhoods have been personally
distributed by a cadre of ARS Lebanon volunteers in the past
weeks. These efforts have been made possible through the
immediate emergency $20,000 donation by the ARS, Inc.
international office, Watertown, MA.
“People are very proud,” said ARS Lebanon Regional Board of
Directors Chairwoman Maral Mekhjian in an interview on
August 18. “So, our members are personally delivering food
and other necessities directly to Armenian neighborhoods
hard hit by recent fighting in Lebanon. We wanted to make it
easier for people to receive what they need.”
Pasta, cheese, sugar, and other basic foodstuffs have been
distributed to bring immediate relief to those who cannot
otherwise afford such necessities at this time.
Relief efforts through a community-wide Board of Assistance
have been headquartered at the ARS Lebanon’s Arax
Boulghourjian Center. While food and medicine was being
distributed daily predominantly to non-Armenians in need,
current relief efforts are being redirected to focus on the
Armenian-Lebanese community.
“There is a need for chronic medications right now,”
Mekhjian reported. “Those with heart conditions and
cholesterol are relying on our efforts in obtaining these
medications and we are working very hard to be sure that
people get the medicines they need. But we are running out
of medications very quickly.”
This week, the ARS, Inc. international headquarters is
transmitting an additional $10,000 to its ARS Lebanon entity
to continue the food and medicine distribution that the
population has come to rely on. The additional infusion of
cash is made possible by donations from the ARS’s Eastern
USA, Western USA, Canada, Cyprus, Greece, England,
Australia, Salonica, and Kuwait entities.
Although Mekhjian reported that the Armenian-Lebanese
community is cautiously optimistic that the political and
social climate will improve, she added that the ARS will
provide its important social and medical relief to the
community for as long as necessary.
Those who wish to make a donation to assist the ARS in its
relief efforts in Lebanon and elsewhere around the world
should send their tax-deductible donation to ARS, Inc., 80
Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472.
Founded in 1910, the ARS is the oldest and largest Armenian
women’s organization, providing emergency and long-term
assistance through its various programs and projects. For
more information, call (617) 926-5892 or email
ceb@ars1910.org.