season of giving

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the cancellation of all but one social event in 2020, the alumni association used that time to reflect on what can we be doing as an organization, rather than what we cannot do.  During this past holiday season, we decided to have a Season of Giving campaign, whereas we would have several avenues of community service/philanthrophy that benefitted more than one charity.

​The DZ chapter of TKE alumni association participated in philanthropic activities this holiday season to help the needy and our veterans in the St. Louis and Cape Girardeau areas. The executive board wanted to share with you the acts of giving the alumni association performed.

1)The Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau had an “adopt a veteran” program for veterans in need. The alumni association “adopted” two of their veterans and purchased the gifts that each one had on their lists. I delivered those gifts to the veterans home last week.

2) We organized a food drive that resulted in over 225 cans (about 400 pounds) of food, that benefited local food pantries. Dan Helman volunteered his business, Eagle Pest Control, as a drop off location and he delivered the canned goods to OASIS Food Pantry in St Charles. The on-campus TKE house was another drop-off location and I delivered those canned goods to the Womens Safe House Outreach Center in Cape Girardeau.

3) As part of the Wreaths Across America campaign, The alumni association bought 10 Christmas wreaths that were laid on the tombs of deceased veterans at Jefferson Barracks National Memorial Cemetery.

4) The alumni association adopted a needy family through the United Way's 100-Neediest Families program. We adopted a single mother and her 5 year old daughter. The alumni assisted the family by paying their past-due utility bills, as well as fulfilling their needs of food expenses, household items, clothes, and toys. Larry Snopek and Dan Green shopped for and delivered the gifts to the family’s social worker, who will give them to the family.

5) To close out our season of giving for 2020, the DZ alumni association donated $500 to the Dr Joseph Worth Memorial Scholarship at St Louis Community College, where Frater Worth (DZ771) was a counselor, educator, and leader for 18 years. His work and memory lives on in his scholarship and we are honored to contribute to this wonderful cause.

Special thanks goes to the following during this Season of Giving:
-Those who donated canned goods for the food drive.
-Frater Dan Green (treasurer) and Larry Snopek (secretary) for purchasing and delivering the “adopt a family” gifts.
-Frater Dan Helman for letting us use his business (Eagle Pest Control in St Peters, MO) as a food drive drop off location and for delivering the canned goods to the OASIS food pantry.
-Most of all, thanks to the Delta Zeta alumni. Your yearly dues payment allowed us to be generous in giving approximately $2,850 in gifts and other items to our veterans and the needy. Your continued support will allow us to continue supporting these programs. Looking forward to do this (and possibly more) next year.