2024 Making a Better World Initiative Recipients ROCKWOOD GIVES BACK: THE GIVING PLACE Shelley Smith, Missouri Beta Xi
Since 2020 the sisters of Beta Xi have made a significant impact as volunteers for the Rockwood Give Back (RGB) program in St. Louis County, Missouri. The program was developed to increase awareness of, and provide support for, students and families in need in the Rockwood School District. Staff inform RGB about tangible needs identified among the 19,450 students. Requests are shared with the district community who donate items such as: money, clothing, furniture, toys, home goods, cleaning products, and personal care items. The RGB Giving Place is the donation center established to disseminate these items to families. The sisters of Beta Xi Chapter are the only organization who provide continuous voluntary service at the Giving Place. Tasks include taking inventory, sorting, organizing, and displaying donations, and laundering incoming clothing. Beta Xi sister, Linda Vail, coordinates the chapter volunteers. The RGB coordinators refer to Beta Xi’s collaborative and socially responsible work as “heart work.”
WATER FILTERS FOR HONDURAS AND BEYOND
Teresa Anderson, Texas Alpha Rho The need for affordable filtered water for the people of Honduras was brought to Alpha Rho Chapter. Children were approximately two years behind in their size and weight. A simple water filter system that could be purchased for approximately $30 was identified. This price includes a five-gallon bucket. A huge benefit of this system is that it will last a family approximately 30 years. The Alpha Rho Chapter has provided funds for several of the filters. In June of 2017, water filters were distributed to impoverished families in Honduras. Time was spent explaining why they were needed and how to put the simple filter system together as well as cleaning it. Since then, filters have been distributed to over 20 villages in Honduras, to over 400 families on the coast who were affected by 2022 hurricanes, and to many of the warravaged areas of Ukraine. This past year another 175 water filters were distributed in Honduras and 300 were sent to Ukraine. If water filters continue to be available for distribution, this project will continue to help the people.