Winter Coats for Debi Arach

The Paros Foundation established the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, Armenia on April 15, 2015 with the help of generous donors. The center, which provides 150 children each week the necessary academic, psychological, social and humanitarian support, has since been a source of positivity in this city. The residents of Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city, have endured very devastating realities since the tragic 1988 Spitak Earthquake. More than 100,000 residents were left homeless, and plagued with unemployment and rampant poverty for years to come. In turn, the fate of children in Gyumri has also been affected. Dealing with the difficulty of finding means to feed and care for their families, many parents are unable to provide their children with the proper guidance, supervision, educational aid and the financial resources for them to excel in school and have successful futures. Furthermore, freezing temperatures and extreme poverty have created humanitarian crisis in Gyumri as well.

One very important need, especially during the winter, is winter coats. Sponsorship towards this effort will ensure that 150 children attending the Debi Arach Children’s Center will receive warm winter coats. Dustin Hochmuth, a SERVICE Armenia 2017 participant will lead the effort in raising funds. He was able to meet the children and witness the difficult living conditions in Gyumri this summer and wants to help! With these warm winter coats these children will be able to stay healthy, and be able to continue to attend school.