Commentary: Teachers care about others and show it*
*This article has been corrected. See below.
Many women enjoy getting together for brunch.
However, sharing a brunch with the homeless women who have found food, shelter and comfort at Isaiah House in Santa Ana was an outstanding experience for the Gamma Nu chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, teacher’s sorority.
We have had a relationship with Isaiah House for three years. We bring snacks when we visit. One year around the holidays, we brought a Christmas tree, made decorations with the women and then decorated the tree. The truly unique aspect of Gamma Nu’s relationship with Isaiah House is that each visit yields a joint service project.
Recently, several Gamma Nu members brought brunch items on a Saturday morning and sat down to share a delicious meal with the Isaiah House women. After brunch, the women signed greeting cards for wounded servicemen and women.
These cards were sent with donations of pillow cases and T-shirts to Sew Much Comfort, which makes special clothing for wounded veterans.
It is amazing to see the feeling of pride on the faces of the women who have fallen on hard times as they realize that they can do something to make the world a better place.
Future Business Leaders of America is a wonderful organization. When I was a business teacher, my students participated in the regional and national leadership conferences and competitions. I also had three state FBLA officers in my chapter.
A few years ago, some of my Gamma Nu sisters and I were judges at the national conference when it was held in Orange County. Several of us were able to earn funds for community service projects and scholarships by validating scores.
With the national leadership conference coming to Orange County in June, we participated again. I presented a workshop for the college division (Phi Beta Lambda) and will be judging some of the high school competitions.
Again, we had the opportunity to sign up as “validators” to earn money for our sorority’s altruistic and scholarship projects. I participated along with Gamma Nu members Harriet Kelly, of Lake Forest; Leslie Williams, of Costa Mesa; Jill Lissoy of Fountain Valley; Pam Burris of Laguna Niguel; and Carol Valcarcel of Huntington Beach.
The most exciting part of this experience is that we are seeing firsthand how young adults are choosing positive goals for themselves and working hard to reach their goals despite challenges and adversity.
MYRNA CAPSUTO lives in Irvine.
Correction: A headline on this commentary incorrectly stated the sorority was made up of young people. The sorority is made up of teachers.