UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Around 400 Philoptochos ladies gathered on Dec. 10 at the Long Island Marriot for an elegant celebration benefiting the St. Michael’s Home.

The semiannual Agape Luncheon is a time for the District Archdiocesan Philoptochos Chapters to come together for an incredible afternoon in support of this sacred mission.

The funds raised from this year’s luncheon will support the Capital Campaign for the Expansion project which will be located in Uniondale, NY.

The Direct Archdiocesan District (DAD) is composed of 55 sister Philoptochos chapters,which geographically include New York State, most of Connecticut, and Washington D.C.

Together, the 22 DAD Board members worked diligently alongside President Jennifer Constantin to offer guests an afternoon of camaraderie and share the exciting news about the St. Michael’s Home expansion.

The audience was addressed by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, the Director of the Home. Bishop Andonios spoke about the inspired vision to bring greater and expanded quality care to those encumbered by old age.

The Capital Campaign aimed to raise $25 million will include a complete gut restoration of an over 90,000 square foot existing building which was purchased from the Rockville Center Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church.

This expanded space will allow the Home to increase its occupancy from 60 to over 160 residents and levels of care from one to four, including a secure dementia unit.

This new continuum care facility will enable the Home to face the challenges that it has been met with in the last decade.

The growing numbers of the elderly and the need to comply with stricter government regulations on adult care facilities have made it evident that St. Michael’s Home has outgrown its current location and facility.

The new facility will be able to offer a larger, beautiful indoor and outdoor environment, library, beauty salon, and music room, among many other wonderful ancillary spaces.

A special video was presented, which was debuted at the Home’s Annual Gala and showcases the quality care the Home currently provides the elderly and emphasizes the need to expand the facility.

Some other highlights of the event included the drawing of the terrific raffles, which were donated by various generous donors and Philoptochos chapters.

Guests walked away with gift bags filled with delicious koulourakia handmade by the residents of the Home in appreciation for the continued support and efforts of the DAD Chapters.

In his remarks, Andonios repeated one his favorite sayings, “fasoli to fasoli, yemizi to sakouli”…..meaning “bean by bean, the bag fills up.”

Even the smallest gift will help the Home accomplish this endeavor which brings great joy to our community and deeply impacts the lives of countless Greek Orthodox elderly.

With this luncheon, the Direct Archdiocesan District women are proud to be contributors to this project working together towards making this long awaited dream of St. Michael’s a reality.

More information on St. Michael’s Home is available online at stmichaelshome.org and on the Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos at dadphiloptochos.org.

(By Alexa Ciccone, Director of Development at St. Michael’s Home)