Commentary; Posted: 8/8/07
His job in life is to help people
It’s certainly clear that Christ Bairaktaris is a man meant to help people. If it isn’t flood or tornado victims, it is those who have been hit hard by fire.
Readers may well be familiar with Bairaktaris. He founded Project Hope North, Inc. in Forest Lake and has spent years raising funds to help those in need. His targets to help have included those hit by the Red River Valley floods and families wiped out by wind storm.
Bairaktaris has been on the disabled list for the past year. Open heart surgery and eye cataract surgery have been set backs for the local man. He is also facing more medical procedures this year with upcoming gall bladder surgery and the placement of a heart pacemaker.
But when Bairaktaris learned of a Forest Lake soldier who returned from Iraq only to become the victim of arson, he had to help. Bairaktaris has emerged from his temporary retirement to launch a Project Hope North fund drive for Army Spc. Stephen Major and his wife Jessica and their three children.
Earlier this summer, Major came home and within days his rented townhome in Fridley was hit by arson. They lost most of their belongings and had no insurance.
Thanks to efforts from fellows like Bairaktaris, the Majors will get back on their feet. It is the least the area can do to help one of their own, Bairaktaris says. Major is a 2002 graduate of Forest Lake High School. The family is now living in Lino Lakes.
How can you help?
Through Bairaktaris, Project Hope North hopes to raise $3000 for the Major family and another $3000 for a second soldier who also lost his home in the Fridley fire this summer.
Area residents wishing to help the Major family through the Project North drive may send tax-deductible donations to: Project Hope North, Inc., P.O. Box 428, Forest Lake, MN 55025. For information on other ways to help or make donations of household items the family may use, call Bairaktaris at 651-464-7263.
In his years of helping people, Bairaktaris has done a world of good. Poor health isn’t keeping him from trying again.
Now that Bairaktaris is working to help a fellow who hails from this area, why not join him?
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605