Students lend a hand

Using Gandhi’s slogan “Be the Change” as its motto, one of IU’s newest South Asian interest sororities celebrated Gandhi National Day of Service at IU for the first time.

In honor of Gandhi’s Oct. 2 birthday, Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc. organized a day of service where at least 50 IU students spent their day volunteering at Monroe County charitable organizations.

Student volunteers gathered at 9 a.m. at Ballantine Hall for breakfast donated by local businesses. The group of volunteers then split up and helped at seven sites in the name of Mahatma Gandhi.

As a South Asian interest sorority, Delta Phi Omega felt that a day of service in honor of one of the most famous and influential Indians of all time was a perfect opportunity to get themselves and other students involved in the community.

“Because Gandhi was such an important man, we wanted to put on an event that exemplified his values,” Sonam Thadani said.

As a member of Delta Phi Omega, which was established at IU in April, Thadani said she and her sorority sisters wanted to create an organization that was more than just a place to live.

“We weren’t into the traditional sorority thing,” she said. “We wanted to start something that had more impact.”

Volunteers aided in tasks that might not have been done otherwise.

“It’s difficult to get all the work done when you are constantly short staffed,” Salvation Army Lieutenant Jonathan Fitzgerald said. “It’s really great when you get so many competent volunteers who are willing to help.”

The staff at The Salvation Army put half of the group to work cleaning the store at the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Rogers Street and sent the other half to their off-site warehouse to prepare for the Christmas season.

“Over 700 local families get support at Christmas time,” said Peter Iversen, Salvation Army community relations and volunteer coordinator. “We have thousands of toys to be sorted and boxed, and volunteers like these make our lives much easier.”

At Griffy Lake, volunteers were asked to beautify the trails by clearing them of weeds and defining the boundaries, as well as fixing the rain bed that prevents sediment from washing into and filling up the lake.

Nishi Patel, the Griffy Lake location coordinator for Delta Phi Omega, said the group chose to help at the lake so that volunteers could participate in an outdoor activity.

“It’s close to campus and introduces people to a new place to hike and enjoy the outdoors,” Patel said.

At the Middle Way House, an organization dedicated to ending violence against women and children, volunteers helped to organize and clean the children’s room at The Rise, a transitional house for victims. Monte Simonton, the youth program coordinator at Middle Way House, said that volunteer work is what keeps their organization running smoothly.

“Middle Way 100 percent relies on volunteers,” he said. “They are able to do the little things we just don’t have time for.”

Pritika Patel, the Middle Way location coordinator for Delta Phi Omega, said she thinks that the event and the day were an overwhelming success.

“To see people come on a Saturday morning instead of sleeping is so great,” she said. “This is our one big event this year, and it is a total success in our book.”

Nishi Patel said she wants this event to define Delta Phi Omega’s dedication to service.

“I think today embodies the quote ‘Be the Change,’” she said. “We want to be proactive and make an impact. We may be a small sorority, but we have a big voice.”