The global threat of COVID-19 has not slowed down ODPhi’s desire to give back and to aid the most vulnerable. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rise in demand at food banks across the nation due to the federal government’s inaction in providing relief to its citizens during this time of great need.
The Honorable Knights of the DFW Alumni Association hosted another successful Holiday Food Drive benefiting the North Texas Food Bank which serves the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. According to the non profit’s website, the agency has served 96.9 meals to needy families as well as distributing 34 million pounds of fresh produce.
DFWAA Chairman Jose Lara, alumn of the Alpha Omicron Chapter at the University of Texas at Dallas, launched the effort alongside his board. In total, the association collected $1,500 in donations as well as 2,192 pounds of non-perishables equaling 1,826 meals for needy families during this holiday season. Service and outreach chair Steven Olsen from the Eta Chapter coordinated the drive and spearheaded the project in collaboration with the North Texas Food Bank.
“The purpose of this fraternity is to be a SERVICE(1st)/social organization. Our scarlet hearts bleed love by providing the community a promising future for everyone. One Culture, any race. Thank you brothers for showing love to the people in need. ODPHI till I die” expressed Lara.
“When I joined I was told this is a brotherhood for life, not just while in college. Since I graduated in 2010, I have continued to put in work with the Alumni Association and I have been able to give back to our community. I’m Thankful for those brothers who have stepped up and put in work over the years with me.I encourage each brother to look forward and not look backwards and say “Back in my day we did this” and offer to help out the alumni association. For the DFWAA, it’s not about what chapter you are from, It’s about coming together and being a unit. We are, One DFW” Lara finalized.
Meanwhile, in Houston; the Pi Chapter at the University of Houston was tasked with making adjustments to their traditional Thanksgiving community dinner. In collaboration with MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling Through The Arts), a non profit organization aimed at the healthy development of under-served youth and adults through arts and cultural programming. The Pi Chapter has a long standing partnership with the agency and throughout the year, hosts other events for the communities MECA serves.
In years past, brothers from Houston would come together before the Thanksgiving holiday to prepare a feast for members of the community. MECA would host the gathering and brothers would prepare the meal and serve it, in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
This year, due to the threat of the ongoing pandemic that is ravaging communities across the globe, the Pi Chapter had to modify their event and still meet the need of the underserved communities that MECA serves. 87 Kookers, a group of alumni that started years prior to coordinate and celebrate their alma mater’s annual Frontier Fiesta, took on the challenge of preparing the feast for this year’s event.
The feast was retooled as a drive through event where community members were able to drive through and pick up plates curbside to be able to enjoy safely and in the comfort of their homes.
MECA and Pi Chapter have partnered together for more than a decade now and the outreach and advocacy they provide for the underserved populations of Houston is inmeasurable.
