Honorable Knights Answer Call to Serve During Holidays

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 for assistance around the nation. Many non-profit agencies and food banks were tasked with the challenge of meeting the overwhelming call for help from Americans in need. Omega Delta Phi brothers rose to the occasion and keeping in mind the great need exacerbated by economic strife as a result of a global pandemic, they got to work.

The Honorable Knights of the DFW Alumni Association hosted their annual Knights Before Christmas Elf Toy Drive where they collected monetary donations as well as new toys for children in need in Dallas. The Alumni Association decided to donate to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County.

The brothers collected their donations and set off to retailers where they purchased the toys that would be donated to the agency. Brothers were inspired by the gestures of kindness of members of the community, who upon seeing the efforts being led, made on the spot donations to contribute to the cause.

Meanwhile, the Beta Phi chapter at Fresno State University continued their annual tradition of caroling and raising money for a charitable cause. The 3rd Annual Knight of Christmas Caroling was held virtually via Zoom this year, due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19 in hard hit Southern California sector.

The event was held on December 21, 2020 and the Valley Children’s Hospital was the beneficiary of all monies raised. Valley Children’s is a pediatric hospital located in Madera, California which serves a considerable portion of the Central California sector.

Brothers from the Beta Phi chapter held their annual caroling event via Zoom, the state of California has seen a historical and concerning rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths and the Beta Phi Chapter did not deem it appropriate to gather in person. The brothers sang to the tune of holiday hits like “Silent Night” “Feliz Navidad” and other tunes to get into the spirit of giving and to entice potential donors to join their cause.

“The purpose of our Knight of Caroling is to bring christmas vibes to everyone while helping our community at the Valley Children’s Hospital” stated the chapter’s Instagram page as they prepared for the evening of caroling. The Knights not only wanted to provide a gift to the children of the hospital but also raise morale and get everyone into the holiday spirit.

In observance of Martin Luther King Day, the Honorable Knights at Stephen F. Austin State University also carried out a service effort of their own, in commemoration of the late civil rights leader’s birthday. The brothers at SFA lent a hand and hands on community service to Precious Cycle, a local non-profit organization that collects donations for those in need in Nacogdoches and who then distribute them to members of the community. After the holiday rush, the storage units where the agency stores its goods were in need of some organization and cleanup.

The SFA Knights came to the aid of the agency after a shortage in volunteers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following social distancing protocols and masking up, the brothers at SFA were able to assist Precious Cycle with their needs.

The Honorable Knights of Omega Delta Phi take utmost pride in providing hands on community service rather than just writing a check. The bonds forged with the communities served are invaluable and serve as a tangible reminder of the WHY of the fraternity. A call to serve made by our seven founders, by a community agency, or even by legendary leaders and icons such as Martin Luther King Jr. have been made throughout history. A question Knights won’t have to grapple with is whether that call was answered or not.