Posted 6/13/01
Project Hope North continues to serve the disaster-stricken
By MaryHelen Swanson
First there was the 1997 flooding in the Red River Valley, particularly East Grand Forks and Grand Forks, then the tornado hit at Granite Falls ravaging the town, and then the Carlos Avery fire in autumn 2000 snuffed out three homes.
The work is never done for Project Hope North, a non-profit disaster aid resource started by Forest Lake resident Christ Bairaktaris.
Itís never done because Bairaktaris wonít rest until people stop being hurt by disasters of one sort or another.
From his small apartment he relentlessly works to make life better especially for those who have been uninsured or underinsured in times of distress.
For over two years he worked to provide the most meager household items to flood victims, becoming so endeared to the folks in the Grand Forks area they dubbed him the ìAngel of the Red River Valley.î
As long as his rusted vehicle will hold together, he will be somewhere helping someone.
When the Carlos Avery fire destroyed three homes, Project Hope was there to help.
When two other area homes burned, he was there.
When he heard about 27 families in Granite Falls that needed his help, he was there, too.
In fact, he was just there in mid-May bringing a trailer load of household items, the kind youíd never think youíd miss, but the kind you probably couldnít live without.
When he arrived May 17, 22 of the 27 families came to help unload the trailer. The next day, the other five families came to help him get ready to go back home.
But he still needs about $10-12,000 to make sure their needs are met, with many of them not having the insurance needed to get back on their feet.
Bairaktaris is a kind man whose greatest desire is to help others, those less fortunate, whose shoes we all could wear if we ever fell into the throws of a disaster.
He reminds us also that all money donated to Project Hope North is used only to purchase the items for these families, and most of the time at sale prices.
Bairaktaris is a keen shopper and looks for good bargains. Sometimes with the help of store managers heís able to get a large quantity of one or two items at a reduced cost.
After helping these unfortunate people for several years now, he has a warning for us all - please, check your insurance.
If you would like to help him with his worthy cause, send a donation to: Project Hope North Disaster Aid, Box 428 Forest Lake, MN 55025.
Or call him at 651-464-7263. Leave a message if heís not home, heís probably out helping someone.