ARS of Eastern USA Donates $100,000 to Sponsor Two Homes Through the “Hearths of Hope” Program

· October 10, 2025

WATERTOWN, Mass. — The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA announced a $100,000 contribution to the ARS “Hearths of Hope” program, sponsoring two homes for displaced Artsakh families in Armenia.

The “Hearths of Hope” initiative was launched by the ARS Central Executive Board to provide permanent homes for families who were forced to evacuate from Artsakh. Through this program, houses with adjacent plots of land are being purchased in Armenian villages, renovated, furnished, and offered to multi-generational families who possess the skills to cultivate the land and raise livestock.

“Each home we help build is a light of hope for a family starting over. and symbolizes strength, faith, and the unbreakable spirit of our people,” said ARS of Eastern USA Chairperson Muriel Parseghian. “We are deeply thankful to our chapters, the Eastern USA communities, and our sister organizations for working tirelessly on numerous fundraising initiatives to make this possible,” she continued.

The program began in Shirak Province, where homes have already been purchased in the villages of Akhurik, Benyamin, Mets Sariar, Pasen, and Hatsik. A total of ten families are being resettled by October, enabling them to engage in agriculture and remain connected to their homeland. Under the program’s guidelines, families must reside in their new homes for at least ten years and cultivate the surrounding land. After this period, if they have responsibly maintained the property, ownership will be officially transferred to them.

As the ARS gears up to celebrate its 115th anniversary in the homeland in the coming weeks, the “Hearths of Hope” project stands as a living testament to the organization’s enduring mission to serve the Armenian nation with compassion, purpose, and faith in a brighter future.

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