Lots of helping hands
Story created Oct 30, 2009 - 17:33:43 EDT.
Special to the Murray Ledger & Times
Murray State University's Epsilon Omicron Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority recently participated in a different kind of philanthropy event.
Thirty women from the EO chapter volunteered to stay up into the wee hours of Thursday morning to assist in the completion of a house being built for a family in Woodlawn, Tenn., near Clarksville. The event was hosted by ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
The trip was planned and organized by sister, Whitney Robertson, who currently serves EO as its recording secretary. The planned the trip after she heard the call for overnight volunteers on the radio Wednesday morning. Throughout Wednesday, she called on 30 sisters via Facebook, text messaging, and emails by issuing a cry for help in the nearby city.
At 9 p.m. on Wednesday, all the girls met at the sorority suite, gathered their thoughts and came up with a game-plan. Robertson assigned seven women to drive and gave them goodie bags filled with candy, cookies and energy drinks to keep everyone alert for the journeys there and back. Armed with maps and G.P.S. systems, everyone piled into vehicles and headed off to their destination.
After checking in, EO was whisked off to the site and put right to work. With the help of other volunteers, the 30 girls laid the sod for nearly the entire front, side and back yards.
They also assisted inside the house, as well as outside planting flowers and completing other landscaping projects. Muddy, tired, and sore, EO kept other volunteers' spirits up with cheers, support, and smiles, even after their work was done.
“We were so excited to be a part of something so important to someone else,” commented Robertson on her chapter's achievement. “All the girls that were involved knew that it would be a long and difficult task, but they were willing to make the trip regardless."
She said some of the girls even went to their 8 a.m. or 11 a.m. classes once they got back to town. “And that shows dedication to helping others,” exclaimed sister Pamela Myrick, public relations chair and Webmaster for EO.
The episode in projected to air on Sunday, Dec. 6, on ABC.
Alpha Delta Pi has 90 active members and is one of five social sororities on the Murray State University campus.