City to aid Greece during fire crisis

PEABODY – As firefighters continue to battle the catastrophic fires that have all but destroyed the Peloponnese peninsula and other regions of Greece, Peabody has joined forces with the St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in providing relief to abandoned villagers.In all, the fires are so massive that they can be seen from space, have killed 63 people and destroyed several hundred villages in their path since they began last Thursday.Three men that had recently visited that country, and who all have a strong Greek heritage like many others in the city, joined Mayor Michael Bonfanti in his office Thursday to discuss the city’s new relief effort.State Rep. Ted Speliotis, along with St. Vasilios Rev. Chris Foustoukos and President Speros Venios outlined a partnership with Peabody’s sister city in Greece, Messini, Messinia, that will allow residents to donate items to help the now homeless villagers survive.The area of Messini is not in danger of being affected by the fires, but Bonfanti said it was important to have a liaison on the other side to receive care packages and donate them to the proper locations. Bonfanti said Messini’s Mayor Costas Spyropoulos is in full cooperation, and will be heading up his own relief effort in Messini, and receiving the donations from the church.”I look at the United States of America as a land that should always be willing to help in time of crisis,” Bonfanti said. “And in Peabody, those are our people. We have a very large Greek-American population here and many of them have ties to that area.”Venios said the church has already sent one care package and they have 10 boxes set up with donations. He said the residents need everything, especially toiletries and every day items such as first-aid supplies, clothing and sheets.The city released an official list of acceptable donations, including tents, sleeping bags, clothing, blankets, sheets, towels, pillows, canned foods, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, new house wares, first aid supplies and shoes.”Greece has had a very difficult time responding to this as a government because they were just not prepared for this sort of event,” said Venios. “We signed our sister pact with Messini to do more cultural things, but this is a very necessary humanitarian effort.”Speliotis said he has heard from many Greek-Americans in the area that say they are frustrated because they cannot help.”There is a tremendous amount of pent-up frustration and demands among Greek-Americans that want to do something,” he said. “It is a connection that is always there (in Peabody). In the face of tragedy this is a wonderful thing. It is amazing how much work a small group of people can get done. I am very glad to see this and I am positive that it will have a positive effect on these small villages that have been hit by this fire.”Donations can be brought to the St. Vasilios church at 5 Paleologos St., in Peabody, or left at Bonfanti’s office on the second floor of City Hall. Monetary donations should be made out to the St. Vasilios Alter Fund, with “Greek Fire Relief” in the memo field.”In my eyes this is a simple act of decency. It is people helping other people,” said Bonfanti. “We have been working with our sister city as our next door neighbors, and in this global world we are all neighbors. When your neighbor has a problem and needs aid you, step up and you help them.”For more information on where and what to donate, call 978-531-0777 or 978-902-2863.