Not-so-random acts of kindness
Alpha Phi Omega serves community through projects
Decorating nursing homes for the holidays, organizing blood drives and baby-sitting the children of professors who need breaks are just some of the many service projects that members of Alpha Phi Omega, TCU’s coed service fraternity, have dedicated their time and energy to.
This semester, the TCU chapter of APO was honored with two awards — it was named the 19th largest chapter in the United States and it was given an award for its 15 percent increase in members within the past academic year.
Sophomore psychology major Olivia Breef said she has been pleased to watch the number of members grow over the three semesters she has been in APO.
“Since the semester I pledged, I’ve watched our group grow bigger and bigger,” Breef said. “The number of pledges is growing and we’re able to keep them. I think that we provide an organization anyone can join and do something that helps a group of people and still have fun.”
APO projects are divided into four areas of service: campus, chapter, community and nation. The service organization has 50 active members and 30 pledges this semester.
APO’s friendly atmosphere and purpose were the features that first drew Adrianne Anderson, a senior political science major, to join the organization.
“I like doing community service and I wanted a way to get involved on campus and meet new people,” Anderson said. “I found that I really liked the group and I stuck with it.”
Once pledges have paid the $55 dues, they become active members and are required to pay their dues and complete 20 hours of community service.
Laura Johnston, a junior art history major, said most members fulfill the service requirements easily.
“The pledges have a pledge trainer who keeps track of their hours,” Johnston said. “If you are behind in hours, they help you find projects to help make up the time.”
The group’s service-oriented attitude has made them very successful in the number and variety of services it has been able to commit to.
Angel Tree, an event sponsored by the Salvation Army at Ridgmar Mall, is just one of the service projects APO participated in Tuesday night to help give cheer to young and old alike.
Kerri Hartung, a junior Spanish and psychology major, said she met one woman at the event who was searching the red and white cards that were hanging on the Christmas tree for one that had the same age as her deceased son. The woman was doing this so that she might be able to bless another boy like she would have blessed her own had he lived to see another Christmas.
The names of children are put on white cards and the names of elderly people are put on red cards, along with the size of clothes they wear.
“Families have to go through an application and interview process and then their childrens’ names are put on the tree,” Hartung said. “Nursing home residents are put on there, too. Then people can come by and get the card and after they go shopping for them, bring the gifts back to Angel Tree.. The (child’s) first name is on the card so they get to shop for a person, not just a random (child).”
Members of APO also spent three hours decorating the nursing home inside Huguley hospital.
“We helped them decorate for Christmas because they’re trying to make a really big deal of it,” Hartung said. “The day before we went door-to-door in the home to give each of the residents a card and spend a few minutes talking to them.”
For Johnston, the most enjoyable activity that APO participates in is having members go to the James West Alzheimer’s Home and play bingo with the residents there. Johnston has been visiting the home since she joined last semester.
“When we talk to them, they tell us about the lives they have led,” Johnston said. “This semester, some of the patients I remember from last semester are in wheelchairs because they can’t walk as well or they are having problems with their memories. It’s a little disheartening, but I still like going.”
The largest service project APO hosts each semester is the blood drive.
“Now that we have a relationship set up with Carter BloodCare, most of the work goes toward getting the Student Center Lounge reserved, making fliers to publicize the event and getting people to come,” Anderson said.
APO recently hosted its semi-annual “Professor’s Night Out,” which offers free baby-sitting for children of all TCU faculty and staff in the Rickel Building. Throughout the night, members of the service fraternity helped entertain the children so their parents could have the night off.
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Junior broadcast journalism major
Dana Schmitz and junior advertising/public relations and e-business
major Justin Galbraith jump-rope with Virginia Browson, the daughter
of Charles Bond, a psychology professor.
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For members like Alison Hoffman, a sophomore psychology and religion major, the night was a way of showing appreciation for the professors.
“We understand that the professors work really hard and this is just our way of giving them some time when they don’t have to worry about their (children),” Hoffman said. “It gives them a chance to go out and know their children are in good hands.”
From 5:30 to 11 p.m., APO President Cori Troxel, a junior history major, and other APO members turned the basement of the Rickel into a vast play area for the kids.
“We had obstacle courses and general playing in the aerobics room,” Troxel said. “We had basketball in one of the gyms. We also had board games and a crafts table, where they could make sock puppets.”
APO sponsors Eco-bin, a campus-wide recycling program, and sends its members to AIDS organizations like Bryan’s House and the AIDS Outreach Center.
“When we go to the home, we play bingo and visit with the residents,” Anderson said. “I like to visit with them because they’re really interesting and a lot of them have led really amazing lives.
“We also go to the AIDS Outreach Center where people who have AIDS can come and get nutrition advice as well as food. We sack their groceries and take them out to their vehicles and restock the shelves.”
The organization’s members invited alumni members and active members to celebrate its 50th anniversary. APO is also looking forward to sending four of its members to the national convention in Philadelphia and hosting the Section 41 Convention in April. APO members in the section will gather at TCU to listen to speakers and attend seminars.
As the semester comes to an end, some members are looking forward to the final events.
Kelly Cowdery, a junior elementary education major, says the two most important group activities at the end of the semester are the Semi-formal, APO’s awards banquet, and the activation of the pledges as official members.
“APO has three cardinal rules: leadership, friendship and service.,” Cowdery said. “At the Semi-formal, four awards are given out. Awards are given to the pledge and the active member with the most service hours. An award is also given to the member who demonstrates the best leadership and to the member who demonstrates friendship to the most people throughout the semester.”
Even as this semester ends, APO members are already planning the projects they will perform next semester to further serve the campus and the community, Cowdery said.
Laura McFarland
ldm_77040@yahoo.com