Ellie AHEPA

The History of Naming "Ellie"

Helle Chapter #283 has had a long tradition supporting our military families and veterans. In 2005, a Helle sister, Rosalie Georgeadis,
encouraged the Chapter to support our military in Iraq and Afghanistan by sending cards and letters as well as care packages to soldiers.
Many of the soldiers wrote back and on return home even met and had dinner with the sister's family. 
About 6 tons of supplies including the cards and care packages were mailed to the war areas through the help of a Chaplain in the Army.
Sisters cooked meals and took them to families at Walter Reed and Fisher House in DC. 
They even met a couple who was having a baby and gave them a baby shower, providing a new crib as well as diapers and clothing for 6 months.

The Chapter later contacted an organization involved in providing adaptive clothing for amputees and learned what was needed and how to make the clothing.
Sisters decided to focus on making boxer shorts using Velcro openings for left and right leg amputees in rehab facilities.
  Approximately 200 boxer shorts were sent to these facilities along with care packages which the whole church community helped to provide. 

Continuing the tradition of supporting our military, the Chapter wanted to raise money for Fisher House, where military families can live while their spouse is receiving medical care.
  Their first wine tasting event, Tastes of the Mediterranean, was held in 2015 to raise money exclusively for Fisher House Foundation.
Over $7,000 was donated that year. The event continues each year and money is still being donated to Fisher House as well as other philanthropies which support the military.

Helping homeless female veterans was the next effort undertaken for those who serve our country. The Chapter connected with Final Salute Inc.
in 2017.The mission of Final Salute Inc. is to provide homeless women Veterans with safe and suitable housing.
Their H.O.M.E Program provides transitional housing, on-site case management, food, clothing, transportation, child care subsidy/assistance, 
employment support and other essential supportive services to homeless women Veterans and their children.
Helle held a raffle of designer handbags and raised $2000 to donate to Final Salute Inc.

The Chapter has also benefited from the love and thanks they have received from the military families. 
Many framed photos, letters and flags have been sent to the Chapter and the St. Katherine community and are displayed in the halls of the Hellenic Education Center.
One flag in particular was sent by Sgt. Major Michael Gray, a Marine who had received a letter from one of the Helle sisters and kept in touch over the years. 
He sent the flag that was flown over his unit during Orthodox Holy Week, still containing the dust from Iraq.

Thus, when the DOP District #3 Project to support the AHEPA Service Dogs for Warriors Project was presented to Helle Chapter,
they immediately said they would raise the money needed to get a dog for a veteran and name her "Ellie" in honor of Helle Chapter,
a proud supporter of military men, women and their families. The Tastes of the Mediterranean and generous support of the community and outside donations,
including military, made this possible for the worthy veteran who will be training for a productive future with "Ellie."