Altruistic Projects

Altruism

“Around the world, members combine their energies and talents to enrich their lives and the lives of others through thousands of heart-warming community based altruistic projects. Because of these projects, it is a brighter day…” ~Alpha Delta Kappa Handbook

A Holiday Tradition Continues - 1955–2020

The San Francisco chapters of Alpha Delta Kappa are continuing an altruistic project which began 65 years ago in 1955 when California Beta invited Kappa and Mu, the other local chapters, to join in providing holiday gifts to hospitalized children with rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever was the national A∆K altruistic project. The chapters directed their efforts to Stanford Convalescent Hospital until 1964 when they began a successful bond with the Children’s Ward of San Francisco General Hospital. Each Year as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Council grew so did the group’s support for children and gifting them at the holiday season.

The efforts were not just for children. The members looked forward to the annual holiday event in order to socialize with other San Francisco sisters and to dress up in their newest holiday attire. Sometimes this evening was the only opportunity to meet and greet all year -- this party was important.

The chapters rotated the hostess responsibilities so venues changed from California Golf Club, San Francisco Presidio Officers Club, a downtown San Francisco hotel and for the last ten years at the Basque Cultural Center.

The festive evening would not be complete without entertainment so the hostess chapter arranged student participation. The sisters have enjoyed choirs, jazz combo, string ensembles, singa-longs and other wonderful student performances. In the past several years Toys for Tots sponsored by the United States Marines was the recipient of our famous Holiday Dinner toy collecting. Marines in full dress came to collect the gifts. In 2019 and 2020 the group supported the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program.

Over the years many exact details have been lost but our spirit always prevailed; but these details are not as important as the fact that gifting children at the holiday season always meant another opportunity to bond with our Alpha Delta Kappa sisters.

Far Left: San Francisco firemen assembled bicycles donated by CA Golden Gate Council sisters.

Left: Sisters from San Francisco chapters gather to collect toys for local children hospitalized and enjoy each other’s company in 1961.

KS Beta Epsilon

In spite of no in-person meetings this year, the long-standing altruism traditions of Kansas Beta Epsilon continued. Nearly $300 was donated to the “Go Red for Women” campaign of the American Heart Association.

GA Gamma Delta

Showing care and concern by giving to charities and organizations in Stephens County in Northeast Georgia was the plan for altruism activities of GA Gamma Delta. During A∆K month, the chapter extended their thanks to the first responders of Tocca and Stephens Counties by giving McDonald’s gift cards to every Sheriff’s Department deputy and every police officer. When the chapter budget was expended, members donated the funds needed. In December, the chapter honored the caregivers and staff at local assisted living and health facilities with fruit baskets and cards of thanks. In February, members sent Valentines with messages of love and encouragement to the facilities.

CA Beta Kappa

CA Beta Kappa members, ( l to r) Cathrine Scheving, Polly Anders and Anne Radford, load groceries the chapter donated to the Viola Blythe Community Center, Newark, CA. Working with the Center, the chapter has provided Christmas gifts for a family with five small children and collected sleeping bags, gloves and other needed items for distribution to the homeless.

LA Alpha Theta

Louisiana Alpha Theta teamed up with the Early Childhood Department at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA in the university’s early literacy project. Together they assembled Easter baskets and bags of items that promote early literacy for children in low socioeconomic areas. The chapter connected with fifteen children and their mothers. Chapter member Christy Hornsby shows a basket and bag.

SC Epsilon

South Carolina Epsilon members made lap blankets for cancer patients on the oncology floor at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, SC. State President Rita Confer shows the blanket presented to her, along with the love and support of her sisters, as she progresses through her chemotherapy.

FL Alpha Alpha chapter held monthly meetings by email this year. Newsletters and reports were sent to members who declared their attendance at meetings by responding to questions related to the materials. Several altruistic projects were undertaken with enthusiasm, including appreciation buckets for first responders, A∆K Month baskets for all county schools, scholarship gift cards to the FL A∆K House, food and toiletries for the Salvation Army Hope House, and a Mother’s Day Raffle to raise funds for scholarship.

GA Beta Iota

The sisters of GA Beta Iota built bunk beds for Sleep In Heavenly Peace (SHP), a nonprofit group dedicated to providing beds for families in need to meet the state challenge of Connecting to Others (C20). Chapter members have also donated pillows and bedding, and they have given financial help.

Along with LaGrange College Education majors, Servant Scholars Program students and Troup County school system Troup Reads sponsors, Beta Iota assembled 20 beds.

C2O was the goal of Past Georgia State President Gayle Owen. Its purpose is to teach the community what Alpha Delta Kappa is all about and how it is involved with giving back to the community.

NY Upsilon

NY Upsilon of Niagara-Wheatfield continued its annual “Bundle Up With Books” program. Seventeen “knot blankets” along with stuffed animals and books were distributed to K-5 students in Niagara- Wheatfield schools. The students were chosen by their teachers. Upsilon sisters also helped a high school senior with graduation needs and donated cookies to the Hearts for the Homeless Christmas Eve dinner. Cindi Broughton, donation coordinator, Jayne Carrig, Elaine Marinucci, Judy Penzotti, Kathy Schelberg, Ann Marie Domarski and Beverly Thomas baked dozens of cookies. Jill Gonzalez contributed candy to the fifty bags of treats donated to the dinner.

The COVID-19 pandemic could not stop MD Epsilon sisters from completing their January altruistic project for the young patients at NIH Children’s Inn. Members tied and delivered to the Inn sixty-seven soft, colorful pillowcases.

MO Upsilon

Sisters of MO Upsilon donated household linen and personal products to Joplin’s Lafayette House, a shelter for women and children suffering from domestic violence.

Enhance, Advance and Kako’o

At the beginning of this biennium, Hawai’i State President Jeanne Chang asked members to “Learn and Grow” and “TAKE THAT LEAP” for HI A∆K. Many state and chapter leaders participated in two “Enhance & Advance” Zoom sessions offered by Hawai’i Nu Chapter President ‘Alohilani Okamura and HI A∆K Publicity Chair Carol Emerson (Hawai‘i Xi) to discuss how to promote A∆K values and HI A∆K accomplishments and to support teachers. ‘Alohilani proposed emphasizing the uniqueness of Hawai’i (our sense of place, spirit, service, interaction) while sharing userfriendly Zoom tools and strategies and exploring different ways to communicate the heart, creativity and resilience of Hawai’i’s membership to maximize member interest and productivity.

In the true spirit of aloha, ‘Alohilani, who is with the College of Education at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, suggested a pilot project to provide teacher candidates with “goodie bags” to acknowledge their commitment to the teaching profession and to provide support during the pandemic, while introducing them to A∆K, planting the seeds for future prospective membership. HI A∆K members from other chapters joined their Nu and Xi sisters, donating money, goods, and time to Project Kako‘o.

During February, more than one hundred members of the HI A∆K ohana (family) donated over $4,500 in cash and goods, as well as their services to package items and distribute the bags. Monetary donations were received from Pearl Harbor Rotary Club, as well as hand-sewn face masks from the senior citizens at the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center. Teacher candidates received bags embellished with the word Puliki (to hug or embrace) and containing food items, teaching supplies and PPEs (personal protective equipment). The University of Hawai’i College of Education teachers were also given gift bags for their assistance and support.

The generosity of donors made it possible for Project Kako‘o Phase II to give another contingent of teacher candidates in need of support a boost in morale. Student recipients shared heartwarming expressions of mahalo (thank you) online, recognizing HI A∆K’s efforts to connect with and support Hawai‘i’s future teachers.

MD Beta

Kay Caviness, MD VP for Membership displays an assortment of new and gently used undergarments collected from her MD Beta sisters to be donated to “I Support the Girls”, an organization that collects and distributes undergarments and menstrual hygiene products to girls and women experiencing homelessness, impoverishment or distress. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a 35% increase in requests for such products.

MD Upsilon

MD Upsilon Sisters have made no-sew blankets and math manipulatives and have given financial support to Gospel Haiti, a school in the poorest section of Haiti. Members also donated birthday bags to the residents of Faith House, a residential recovery program.

MO Beta Sigma

MO Beta Sigma sisters donated over $600 worth of books to the Marygrove Children’s Home, North Saint Louis County, MO. Teaming with the staff of The Novel Neighbor, an independent bookstore in Webster Grove, members were able to provide a variety of books for children, young adults and families who receive services from Marygrove.

NC Alpha Iota

North Carolina Alpha Iota members enjoy finding new ways to support teachers entering the classroom for the first time. The members organized a project to give each beginning teacher in Pitt County Schools a new book for their classroom. Many hands went into selecting, wrapping and delivering books to elementary, middle and high school teachers.

VA Sigma

Virginia Sigma chapter donated Valentine’s Day treats to teachers at Pembroke Elementary school in Virginia Beach, VA. Over 175 latte cups containing Valentine’s Day decor, candy and straws were wrapped by the altruism committee. The cups were given to bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers in addition to all teachers and teacher assistants.

Reaching out to the community in times of need is a motto for the members of West Virginia Mu chapter. The chapter decided to “Show the Love” by sending gift bags of candy, bottled water, hand lotion and lip balm to working teachers. They also showed their appreciation to first responders and health care workers. With the theme “Lucky to Have You”, their support expanded from recognizing four groups to twelve groups.

NM Eta

Alicia Annala of New Mexico Eta chapter shows some of the treats provided by chapter members for the Lincoln County Medical Center and Health Care Clinics in Capitan, Corona, and Hondo. The presentation was organized by members Alicia Annala and Betty Ann Bell to show appreciation to Lincoln County health care workers.

Eta chapter also donated Baby Books to the First Baby of the Year born at LCMC and Valentine gifts to The Boys and Girls Ranches of New Mexico. Eta also supports the Lincoln County Food Bank, H.E.A.L. Domestic Violence Shelter, and the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Blanca.

NJ Alpha Iota

New Jersey Alpha Iota donated $1000 to No Limits Café, a restaurant dedicated to providing employment skills and job opportunities to adults with intellectual difficulties. Volunteers assist these individuals with waiting tables, preparing food and providing excellent service for those who eat in or take out. Their story is Alpha Iota’s story, “Eat well, do good.” Alpha Iota decided to give its altruistic donation to No Limits Café which has walls dedicated to donors who give $1000 or more to the restaurant to help with its operation. NJ Alpha Iota joined this esteemed group in April.

“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ~ Dr. Brené Brown Research professor at the University of Houston; Visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.