Altruism 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

Those thousands of projects range from stocking food pantries to buying underwear for foster children to cooking meals for the homeless to fundraising for scholarships. The length and amount of outreach by our sisters is awe-inspiring. The pandemic has not been a deterrent to acts of altruism but instead has produced new ways to continue on the giving path.

The KAPPAN asked chapters to tell us about their project. And did they ever. We received over 100 news items and photographs. We read and exclaimed over all of them. Thank you for sharing. In order to print as many as possible, articles had to be edited. Space does not allow all of them to be printed in this issue. Here are some ways the women of Alpha Delta Kappa are making it a brighter day.

Alabama Alpha Theta and Alabama Beta Delta

At the joint Founders’ Day meeting between Alabama Alpha Theta and Alabama Beta Delta, cleaning supplies, such as hand sanitizers, wipes, paper towels, kleenex and face masks, were collected for schools where members are teaching. Alpha Theta plans to continue collecting safe supplies for schools. Twenty-eight members were present, including Alabama state president Kay Spriggs and Alabama vice president for membership Minie Coon. Over $400 in gift cards were collected for Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the state altruistic project.

California Eta

Pictured behind the mask is Eta chapter president, Diana Keyes, presenting the check for “Operation Holiday Joy” to Tim Nye, Executive Director of the San Diego Armed Services YMCA. The chapter theme for December was Giving. In addition to donations to the San Diego Food Bank, the chapter supported local enlisted military families for Christmas. Through the generosity of the members, the chapter donated $900 to the Armed Services YMCA’s program called Operation Holiday Joy. Hundreds of families participated in a drive-through caravan to receive toys and Christmas trees.

16 Arizona Mu

The Knitters Group of Arizona’s Mu chapter has been busy knitting and crocheting scarves and purses for the clients of the Native Health Center in Phoenix. Peggy McKitrick, President and Evelyn Leone, President-Elect took them to the center.

At their December meeting, the sisters of AZ Mu chapter decorated their Christmas tree with gift cards totalling $450 from local stores for Child Crisis Arizona.

Connecticut Alpha Gamma

Connecticut Alpha Gamma sisters have been sewing dresses for Little Dresses for Africa. The non-profit collects sundresses made by people all over the world and distributes them to children in Africa, Haiti and 86 other countries. To date, CT Alpha Gamma has sewn over 200 dresses for LDFA. The chapter plans to make it an ongoing project. Information on Little Dresses for Africa may be found at www.littledressesforafrica.org.

Mexico

Mexico’s A∆K chapters came together, helped by community volunteers, to support some of the world’s most excluded: women and children AIDS/HIV sufferers.

In December 2019, the chapter organized a traditional Mexican Christmas party, a posada with food, a concert, gift-giving, fundraising and an in-kind donation drive for the residents of the shelter Domus Alipio, Mexico’s National Altruistic Project, located in Mexico City. That event was the first time the givers and the recipients were able to gather in any significant number. For the more than 75 who attended there was a spirit of joy, gratitude, inclusion and solidarity. The Domus Alipio children and their parents received some “frills” that day: bright red Christmas tablecloths, poinsettia plants, candy-filled piñatas, new clothes, and live music, all while being in a beautiful church venue in an upscale tree-lined neighborhood.

Long-term member Jean Andersen stressed, “Getting to know the recipients of our altruism in person was one of the most valuable aspects of the posada. Up to that time, I had only seen the director of Domus Alipio. Seeing those families added an entirely new dimension to my understanding and awareness of this project.”

Members, along with the A∆K Youth Team and volunteers, played with the children, led craft projects, and donated new scarves, caps and toys individually selected for each child. They also gave out dozens of shoebox gifts of toiletries, fleece blankets and door prizes. One member’s chorus provided the children’s Christmas concert. Many of the children and adults had never experienced a live musical performance. Others donated to the chapter’s first “Kindness Fair” raising over $1,600 dollars for the shelter, scholarships and chapter altruistic projects.

19

Connecticut

Ana Grace Márquez-Greene lost her life in the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December of 2012. For this year’s Founders’ Day altruistic project, the sisters of Connecticut Alpha Delta Kappa collected masks, art supplies, children’s books, and $2350.00 for the Ana Grace Project, where “Love Wins” each and every day, founded in Ana’s memory. The project is “dedicated to promoting love, community, and connection for every child and family through three lead initiatives: partner schools, professional development, and music and arts.”

Florida Gamma Epsilon

Every year, Florida Gamma Epsilon sisters prepare cookies for the local Meals on Wheels program. The agency reports that their clients really look forward to the treat. They serve more than 100 homebound neighbors each year.

DE Eta

Delaware Eta sponsored a successful “Non-Event Event” last fall. Unable to hold their annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, sisters created a letter called “No Wine-ing.” They solicited donations from friends, family and community members who had previously supported the altruistic beneficiary, the Mary Campbell Center. Shown is the presentation to the Center of the check for $6,000.

Florida Delta Gamma

Members of Florida Delta Gamma get ready to hold their annual yard sale to raise money for their scholarship fund. Two $500.00 scholarships are presented to a graduating senior at each of the two county’s high schools. Any Christmas decor not sold was donated to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department for their annual party for needy families. Masks were removed for the photo.

Florida Fidelis Beta

Florida Fidelis Beta provided over 30 residents of Savannah Manor Assisted Living Facility in Leesburg, FL, with Christmas gift bags. Warm socks, cozy lap blankets, and toiletries were a few of the many items provided. Delivering the gift bags are President Irene Clark, Treasurer Carol Bulita, President-Elect Sandy Mockus and Historian Deborah Borello.

Georgia

Georgia remembers its Omega sisters by donating a piece of art each biennium. For 2018-2020, the picture was presented to the House of Hope Refuge of Love, a therapeutic center for girls coming out of human trafficking. Georgia Sisters also donated $5000 in cash and sent many boxes of goodies from Amazon.

Making the presentation from left to right: Darcelle from House of Hope, Norma Rushing, GA State President, GA Beta; Jane Callahan, Beta Xi artist; Jewel Hendrix, GA Alpha Gamma; Melba Priestley, Past International President, GA Alpha Gamma; and Ann Maxwell, Tau Chapter.

Manitoba Beta

The pandemic prompted the retired teaching Beta chapter members to put together a Sisters Helping Sisters Team to reach out to the active teachers in the chapter. The retired teachers could no longer volunteer in the classrooms, so they devised ways to provide support. A system of delivering Wellness Kits, emails with words of support and encouragement, greeting cards, coffee cards, etc, was set up. A list was made of the many things that could be done to help out, such as making masks, delivering school packages, baking, helping prepare learning kits, making PLAY DOH and much more. This support team will be on-going as long as the pandemic lasts.

27

21

Kentucky Lambda

Kentucky Lambda donated 236 books as part of its celebration of A∆K Month in 2020. Books were donated to the Barlow Public Library, to Hope Unlimited and to ChildWatch. Lambda sisters participating in the project were Sharon Dershimer, Vicki Gough and Nancy Piper.

Pictured in the library photo are left to right: Sharon Dershimer, Nancy Piper, Barlow Mayor Peggy Meredith, and library volunteers Zona Newton and Ruth Negley.

GA Beta

For Alpha Delta Kappa Month, the Georgia Beta Chapter collected more than 50 children’s and adult books for the Ronald McDonald House on Emory Hospital Campus. The Ronald McDonald House has been the state altruistic project since the 2000-2002 biennium. The members also serve dinner at the House in February and hold game nights. In December, art supplies were donated.

Indiana Alpha Upsilon

Indiana Alpha Upsilon sisters “adopt” a family each Christmas through Anna’s House food pantry. This year, the sisters chose to help a grandfather, who suffers from terminal cancer, and his twelve-year-old granddaughter. The grandfather, who also volunteers at the food pantry, expressed much gratitude to his “Christmas angels”. This could very well be his last Christmas, and without these donated gifts, there would be no Christmas for his granddaughter, whose mother recently passed away.

Virginia Beta Beta

VA Beta Beta sisters have been quite busy during the pandemic, reaching out to their community. Many have supported active teachers in the chapter by giving food and treats. Almeda Clements provided food and snacks for a local school, while Marilyn Thompson made over 400 masks for first responders, nurses, doctors, friends and others in the community. She even made violet masks for her fellow Beta Beta sisters. Annette Wauchop created over 100 thank you cards to send to essential workers. Other sisters have been volunteering, mentoring and tutoring those at home.

Louisiana Alpha Nu

Sisters of Louisiana Alpha Nu voted to make Solomon House of New Iberia the recipient of donations. Solomon House provides food to needy families in the area through weekly “brown bag” distributions. The director of Solomon House suggested that gift cards for fast food restaurants would be very much appreciated by the children in the families they serve, since that would be a rare treat for them. Members donated gift cards to a variety of fast food restaurants, as well as cash and non-perishable food items.

Minnesota Alpha

Minnesota Alpha Alpha chapter usually gives scholarships to new teachers. But, with all the challenges facing teachers during the pandemic, this year they decided to give three $200 scholarships to actively teaching chapter members. The members were grateful and put the money to good use in their classrooms.

North Carolina Beta Phi

The North Carolina Beta Phi Chapter holds an annual wreath fundraiser in December to fund altruistic projects, including a scholarship for a teacher. They sell beautiful 18-inch Frazier Fir wreaths fresh from the NC mountains. Pictured is Amy Travis, chair of the project.

Missouri Alpha Iota

Missouri Alpha Iota’s daytime altruistic project involved wrapping almost 200 gifts for the children of Coyote Hill, an organization serving children in foster care.

22

Virginia Gamma Alpha

Where there’s a will, there’s a way and Gamma Alphas of Virginia found it. Knowing their antici23 pated fundraiser could not be held as usual, members made a few adjustments and combined a basket auction with an outdoor fashion show. It turned out to be a great fundraiser. The total for the day came to $1,500, more than raised in previous years. The money was divided between St. Jude and the chapter’s scholarship fund.

Working together, sisters secured a location, created their basket donations and found a dress shop, The Finn and Pearl, who provided fashions and models. Each sister contributed a themed basket labeled with a brief description and estimated value of its contents.

The event was held in a covered shelter at the Historic Rice’s Hotel / Hughlett’s Tavern in Heathsville, Virginia. Guests were by invitation only. Guests included SER IVP Conway Blankenship and Lisa Valdrighi, reporter for the local Rappahannock Record.

North Carolina Beta Chi

For thirty years, North Carolina Beta Chi has held auctions to raise money for their Melinda Canniff Scholarship. The chapter awards several scholarships annually to students planning to earn a teaching degree at a 4-year college.

Missouri Alpha Beta

As the 2020-2021 school year began, Missouri Alpha Beta chapter knew it was going to be a very difficult and stressful year for teachers and students. Remembering how difficult it is to be a first-year teacher, the members felt a need to offer support, especially for the new staff. Each new teacher was “adopted” by an A∆K member. Some of the sisters made cards which held goodies and short written messages to let our new teachers know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.

Nevada Eta

Christmas came early to “Our Place”, the Washoe County, Nevada, Women & Children’s Shelter. Nevada Eta members collected new twin sheet sets, pillows, hangers, hampers, adult-level books and children’s picture books to donate to this new facility. It currently houses 102 families, including 56 children and 28 single women. Kimberly Schweickert, the head of the program, presented a program via Zoom in November to the chapter members prior to the Eta sisters delivering the goodies in December.

Virginia Nu

Virginia Nu sisters masked up and rang bells for the Salvation Army in front of Goolrick’s Pharmacy, the iconic store in downtown historic Fredericksburg, VA. Sisters enjoyed sunny weather and were pleasantly surprised by the number of people giving even a small amount to the red kettle. The members have been bell ringers for several years and didn’t want Covid-19 to stop the tradition.

Virginia Alpha Sigma

Virginia Alpha Sigma continued its yearly project of supporting children of trauma at Carilion NRV Hospital in Radford. Blankets of cheerful, soft material are cut and tied by the members for children who arrive at the hospital in need of comfort. At a meeting after putting the finishing touches on some blankets, NRV Nurse Patricia Hudson spoke about the forensic nursing program. She outlined the process of the forensic exam given to children of trauma. At the end, the chapter presented her with the blankets made for the children. Judy Crousew and Chapter President Wendy Dove are shown putting the finishing touches on a blanket.

Texas Omicron and Texas Epsilon Sigma

Texas Omicron and Texas Epsilon Sigma members worked during November and December collecting items such as clothing, furniture, toiletries, Christmas trees and decorations for the families in the devastated areas of Louisiana that were hit hard by the many tropical storms and hurricanes in 2020.

The person instrumental in putting this in process was Billie Adams from Texas Omicron. She and her daughter, Kim, scheduled pick ups with sorority sisters all around Houston. They secured a 20 ft. U-Haul cargo truck and used a personal Ford F-150 to house all the items collected. Emails were sent to sisters to have their gently used items taken to a noted location for pickup. Billie and Shirley Semler’s garage and Glenda Laney’s home were two of the largest destinations for sisters to unload their donations.

Billie contacted Gulf IVP Terry Peyton from Baton Rouge. Through Terry’s connections, Billie was able to speak with Bunny LeDoux, another sorority sister, who put her in touch with the Grand Lake Faith Temple in Lake Charles, LA. From there, the master plan was established to take everything collected from Houston on a major drive to Lake Charles. On December 10, the donations were loaded and taken to Lake Charles to be distributed.

South Carolina Tau

South Carolina Tau President Traci Sorgenfrei presented Hannah Dixon of Poe Mill Achievement Center gift cards for families to use during the holiday season. Poe Mill Achievement Center is an after school program and summer camp for under-resourced children in Greenville, SC.

Texas Beta

Texas Beta has a tradition of going to a Barnes and Noble bookstore in December and choosing books to donate to a children’s cause or center. This year, the books were donated to the Dallas Children’s Hospital. Here is Texas Beta president Andretta Lowry wearing her Alpha Delta Kappa mask with her selection of books.

Nebraska Zeta

For several years, Nebraska’s Zeta chapter has provided cookies every week to the Carolyn Scott Rainbow House, a 56-room guest house for out-of-town families who are coming to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

28 25

Tennessee Alpha Gamma

Tennessee Alpha Gamma prepared a calendar as a scholarship project. Members collected pictures from novices, professionals, and avid lovers of photography to capture the beautiful surroundings of the East Tennessee Region.