By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – University of Nebraska at Kearney Alpha Omicron Pi sisters are supporting soldiers overseas.
All 103 members of the sorority gathered Nov. 14 to fill care packages for deployed troops during the Sisters for Soldiers event. Students and the public were also invited to write letters and create care packages for soldiers.
“It’s a great event that allows us to support the troops and to be able to give back in a small way to people who give a lot to our country,” said Josh Schuman, a senior organizational communication major from Imperial.
Schuman, president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, purchased care packages along with a group of PIKE members.
“The great thing about the Greek community is we all have different philanthropies, and we support one another to make all of our events successful,” he said.
Alpha Omicron Pi will send 150 care packages to soldiers overseas.
“We just thought that this was a good philanthropy for this time of year,” said Alpha Omicron Pi assistant philanthropy chair Jillian Stoumbaugh, a junior business administration and Spanish major. “It’s especially good for the holidays.”
The boxes were filled with sunflower seeds, beef jerky, chap stick, water flavor mixes, decks of cards, hard candy, crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles, magazines and wet wipes.
Personal letters were also written to soldiers.
“I think this is a great event,” said Courtney Hayden, freshman recreation management major from Kearney. “It will mean a lot to them no matter if they know us or not. It shows that we care.”
Three weeks before the event, Alpha Omicron Pi members began raising funds to pay for the care packages. Those who made a donation could choose to have sorority members fill the package, or they could attend the open house to stuff the care package themselves.
More than 20 UNK students and community members arrived at the open house to create their own care packages.
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Source: Jillian Stoumbaugh, stoumbaughje@lopers.unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
