Wheatly Farms & Arts Center hosted Eta Theta Lambda (ETL), Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members for an inclusive volunteer event alongside people supported in Day Services. Together they created meal kits for community partner NOSH Delivers! supporting increased food access for Long Island families.
On Monday January 16, ETL chapter members, including Stanfort Perry, CEO, and William Mills, AHRC Nassau Board Vice President, arrived at the Brookville mansion ballroom with boxes of cookies, pretzels, and popcorn snacks to help complete lunch bags and meal kits alongside people supported.
“It’s a great day of service and a great day of giving back,” said Stanfort. “We have such a long partnership between the Eta Theta Lambda chapter and AHRC Nassau. I’m glad to see that partnership continue in the special way and that we’ll be able to benefit over 200 Long Island families in need. This work is critically important in continuing the vision and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
The day began with an informative session about Dr. King, who was a brother of the ETA chapter, followed by a short discussion on the importance of equity, resilience, and community engagement. The volunteers paired up to create 50 meal kits, each providing a hearty dinner for a family of four, and 100 pre-packaged lunches for students in Head Start and after school programs and who attend schools without lunch options.
Anna Kapowitz, who receives Day Services, was especially proud to be a part of this project. She frequently volunteers with community groups and loves the variety of projects she gets to take on.
“I like helping out, I like meeting people,” Anna said. After placing the final box on the large stack of meal kits Anna added, “It’s really good food and I helped put the boxes together. I hope they enjoy it.”
For years, people supported in Day Services have participated in inclusive volunteering projects supporting food access on Long Island. Alongside corporate volunteers and local organizations, they have contributed thousands of pounds of food to benefit the community.
This inclusive volunteer project is part of the agency’s year-long MLK Campaign and is supported by the MLK Day of Service grant from The Arc, funded by AmeriCorps.