What Are You Doing For the Holidays?

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Food for thought....by Brother Kerry Gilliard, Delta Mu Chapter

ith the Holiday season already in full swing, many are out shopping, gathering last minute gifts, waiting in line to purchase "Tickle Me Elmo", or making preparations for that long dreaded/long awaited family gathering for the holidays. Many undergraduate brothers and sisters leave the cares of college and try to chill after a rough semester and take it easy for the few weeks they do have off.

Of course, you do realize there is no such thing as a "break" from Sigma and Zeta...am I kidding? Nope, not in the least. Those three letters across your chest, branded on your arm, leg, thigh or OTHER body part indicate a commitment to the high ideals which all of our beloved founders cherised when they organized us. At no other time during the year does the SERVICE aspect of both our organizations come into focus than during the holiday season. Don't get me wrong- service is a YEAR - ROUND thing, but even moreso during the holidays simply because so many DO NOT have the luxuries that some of us possess (i.e.- a computer to read this message, a house to sit in and those snacks your busy spilling on your keyboard while you read this...).

My message to all frat and sorors whether your traveling home this year or staying in the area- don't leave SERVICE at school. Dozens of chapters annually meet up on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas and help serve meals to the homeless - even individuals volunteer part of their personal time to help out or volunteer at a local shelter. Here's some ideas and ways you can help out this holiday season:

Make regular donations to a local homeless shelter out of chapter funds (after all, what's the money just doing lying around for??)- not just at the holiday season, but all year long (funds permitting). SERVICE.
Hook up with your chapter or some frat and sorors in your hometown (if you travel home) and see if any of them are down for a service project on Christmas day. If they are, roll with them. If they're not, find somewhere and volunteer on your own.
Be seen in the community!! As a group, go into the community with your letters proudly displayed on a hat, sweatshirt, etc... and get your hands dirty!! When folks see five or six young (or older) black men or black women with funny looking letters on helping out at a homeless shelter or somewhere feeding the homeless/underprivaleged, you bring good press not only to Sigma and Zeta, but to black greeks organizations across the board and to the black community as a whole.

These are but a few ideas you can do for the holidays. Give to those who can't give to themselves. Our founders would be proud of us for doing such. That's my 1914 MB....

GOMAB and Happy Holidays!!