Rho Xi Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. MLK Day of Service

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— Lovely Lane United Methodist Church was a bustling scene of service this week as members of Rho Xi Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and young members of the Baltimore County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., filled 400 backpacks with nutritious food and snacks to be distributed to homeless children in Baltimore City schools.

Keeping with the national theme of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority “Launching New Dimensions of Service,” the local chapter focused its service efforts on family strengthening, educational enrichment and fiscal responsibility.

“Currently there are 3700 homeless children in Baltimore,” said Christian Wilson. “There is a tremendous need for services. If organizations, churches, and others get together to provide this service, we could possibly eliminate the problem.”

Corene Myers, Chairman Childhood Hunger Initiative; members Jeanette Churchill, Brenda Johnson and Monica King; Judith Britton, Chairman, Million Backpack Committee, Au'Sha Washington, Vice President Program; and member Martina Washington

Courtesy Photo

Corene Myers, Chairman Childhood Hunger Initiative; members Jeanette Churchill, Brenda Johnson and Monica King; Judith Britton, Chairman, Million Backpack Committee, Au’Sha Washington, Vice President Program; and member Martina Washington

The Rho Xi Omega Chapter joined Christian and his wife Pamela who have operated Hearts Place Services, a ministry at Lovely Lane, for six years. Each weekend during the school year, they oversee the distribution of food bags to homeless children for the weekend. The children pick up food each Friday before leaving school. The bags were stuffed with cartons of milk, cereal, bread, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars and snacks.

Also during the day, members of Rho Xi Omega continued to serve the community by focusing on “Fiscal Responsibility” at the Guardenzia long-term treatment facility, Women with Children Unit. This service event included three separate components: Building a library for the children who reside in the center. The organization set up the library with donated books and magazines for children of all ages; members provided the mothers with financial literacy information; and providing the mothers with materials and helping them to build their own dream boards.

Although this day of service was a way of honoring Dr. King, the services of Rho Xi Omega will continue with the collection of seasonal wraps, hats, gloves and scarves for children and adults.

The activity chairmen for this event were Au’Sha Washington, vice-president program; Corene Myers, Childhood Hunger Initiative; Judith Britton, Million Backpacks Committee; Karen Heywood-West, president, Baltimore County Chapter, Jack and Jill. The President of Rho Xi Omega is Dr. Scheherazade Forman.