O∆K’s 15th National Day of Service is on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Many individuals and circles participate in service on their campuses and in their communities throughout the year. You can share how you or your circle is providing service to others by submitting a report here. Here are some examples of leaders giving back in their communities:
Maya Greenquist (Missouri Southern State University, 2022) founded the Basic Biomedical Supplies Drive for the Souls Harbor shelter in Joplin, Missouri. Maya, a pre-med major hoping to one day attend medical school, chose to focus her Honors Program service project on medicine, and collected more than $1,000 and 14,000 individual items over three months. She worked with more than 15 churches and local businesses to solicit donations and set up donation sites, and the supplies drive will now be an annual event.
Charles Creed (Campbell University, 2022) volunteers as a medical interpreter at pro bono clinics hosted by Campbell University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine. The clinics serve members of the local community, in additional to seasonal migrant workers, and utilize mobile units to visit farms to serve workers where they live. Creed learned Spanish while working as a landscaper between high school and college, and wants to continue to use his skills to help underserved communities in North Carolina which have large Spanish-speaking populations.
Members of the circle at The University of Alabama at Birmingham volunteered at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, building enough food boxes to feed more than 200 families during their time of service.
Members of the circle at Furman University volunteered with their local Habitat for Humanity. During their day of service, they worked on building nearly half of the roof of their assigned home.
The Southern Connecticut State University Circle cleaned out their closets for the Omicron Delta Kappa Spring Cleaning Challenge, the circle’s service project this year. Members and other students donated items, ranging from professional attire to hair care products, to the Open Door Closet in the SAGE Center, which supports the university’s LGBT+ community.
After completing more than 345 internship hours with A New Leaf, Rory Wilson (Arizona State University, 2022) has continued her work with the nonprofit as a regular volunteer. The organization, based in Mesa, Arizona, helps families, children and adults facing challenges of homelessness, domestic and sexual violence, and other crises. Rory connects groups in the community to the nonprofit through presentations.
Sadé Miller (SUNY Oneonta, 2022) spent a week volunteering with Common Ground Relief, a New Orleans-based nonprofit devoted to preserving Louisiana’s wetlands. Miller and her classmates planted trees, worked in a community garden, and built a berm to help prevent flooding at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge.
Sara Frunzi (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2022) has completed more than 50 hours of service this year, including making dog toys for animal shelters, making blankets through Project Linus, working with the Greater Worcester Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and participating in community cleanup events. She also helps plan service events for the WPI chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed community service organization.
John “Jack” D. Morgan (Maryville University, 1986) served as the executive director of Omicron Delta Kappa from 1996-2009. He was a 1996 recipient of the Eldridge W. Roark, Jr. Meritorious Service Award and a 2012 recipient of the Cheryl M. Hogle Distinguished Service Award. Morgan continues to be a servant leader through his volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to 13 individuals or couples weekly.
Josh Carmona (Arizona State University, 2022), also known as Crisco Kidd, works as a radio/TV personality and hosts an annual Spring Diaper and Food Drive, and the Crisco Kidd Ton of Toys and Holiday Food Drive, benefiting nonprofits in the Phoenix community.
