Service

 

The Chi Gamma chapter of APO participates in a wide variety of service projects,  from Habitat for Humanity to volunteering at the Bridgewater Retirement Community. Current weekly and special projects are listed below:

 

Weekly:

 

 

Bridgewater Retirement Community:

 

Bridgewater retirement community serves as the area’s top care giver for the elderly in the Shenandoah valley. Frequently during our time volunteering at Bridgewater, we have found that many residents were and still are influential members of the community including professors, pastors, and coaches. It’s easy to get swept away by the residents’ kindness, jokes, wisdom, and great appreciation for sharing your time.

 

Our Community Place:

 

OCP is a nonprofit community run place whose primary goal is to build community, breaking down traditional social barriers through cooperative community meals, shared activities, and work. Centered on a cooperative community meal at noon, they’re open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am to 2pm offering a range of classes, activities, discussions, projects and games. Recognizing the power of meaningful work and the need for community ownership in the upkeep of the property and our role in the neighborhood, they open on Tuesdays specifically for work projects., and are also open Mondays and Thursdays for special projects.

 

SPCA:

 

The SPCA is a local animal shelter where we help socialize the cats and get them used to people, and walk dogs and get them out of their cages for a little while. The SPCA provides adoption services as well as classes for pet owners. It’s a great service opportunity for college students who love animals but aren’t able to care for one of their own at the moment. The project lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

 

Salvation Army:

 

At Salvation Army brothers participate in the organizations weekly youth night. Brothers help facilitate activities including dinner, chapel time, class time, and electives. On arrival, brothers have a brief dinner with the kids provided by the Salvation Army. Brothers then take the kids to chapel time where there are song, skits, and occasional bible lessons. The kids then divide into their individual classes where brothers lead or co-lead a thirty minute class time. After class time, the kids come back together for electives. During this times brothers lead activities including crafts, sports, dance, and drama. Although it seems like a lot, the main goal of the project is to hang out with the kids and have a good time.

 

Special Olympics:

 

Special Olympics is an opportunity for individuals with intellectual disabilities to find comfort in working towards personal goals through exercise and wellness. At the project, brothers will assist athletes in activities that will enhance their skill sets for a given sport (volleyball, basketball, swimming, track and field, and bowling). We focus on three skills that they will be “tested” on at various tournaments throughout the season. Athletes enjoy a fun and welcoming atmosphere as well as participating in competitive nature to the sport itself. Its a great opportunity to create one-on-one relationships and connections with these individuals while in a playful environment.

 

Special:

 

 

Habitat for Humanity:

 

Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization, is a project we attend on various weekends. We work alongside community volunteers, as well as future homeowners in the Habitat community. We help build houses at various stages of development, such as: foundations, painting, landscaping, etc.