Volunteer Spotlight: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Posted July 1, 2016

Volunteer Spotlight: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

At The Settlement Home, we value the relationships that we have, not only with individual volunteers, but with groups and organizations, too.

This month, we’d like to spotlight our partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA). Reshanta Stewart is a member of AKA and shared with us about what philanthropy means to the group.

Q: Tell us about Alpha Kappa Alpha? 
A: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is a sisterhood and community service organization. Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first historically black Greek sorority founded January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University. The Austin graduate chapter, Beta Psi Omega, was founded May 7, 1938. Our chapter is 150 members strong and we make our presence known in our community. Community service is near and dear to our hearts.  We volunteer with CASA, The American Heart Association, NAMI, Capital Area Food Bank, The Storehouse Food Pantry in Pflugerville, we provide school supplies for every student at our adopted schools Oak Springs Elementary School and Texas Preparatory School, and this only names a few of our service efforts.
Q: How did you get connected to The Settlement Home?
A: I learned about The Settlement Home through one of my sorority sisters, Tyree Johnson. She is an employee at The Settlement Home. I heard her raving about how much she loved working there and I asked for information about The Home. She connected me with Kat Hughey and the story continues.


Q: Why is volunteering important to AKA?
A: AKA is a sisterhood and a community service organization. We provide service to all mankind. Wherever  there is a need we do all that we can to assist. We understand that we are infinitely blessed and that we are in a position to do all that we can to help those in need. Helping others is what we are supposed to do.
Q: Describe the projects AKA has worked on with The Home.
A: We have been working with The Home since June 2016.  So far we have donated 160 water bottles and 30 bottles of sunscreen, we have scheduled a volunteer opportunity with the Capital Area Food Bank for The Home, and AKA has sponsored a jewelry making field trip at the Sea of Beads for The Home.
Q: What kind of impact does volunteering have on your members?
A: When we see the results of our service we know that we have done our part to make the lives of others just a little bit better.  We are always encouraged to do more.
Q: What kind of impact do you hope that your AKA chapter can make on our kids?

A: Alpha Kappa Alpha hopes that we not only provide The Home with needed items such as water bottles and sunscreen, but also provide learning opportunities and enrichment experiences for the young ladies at The Home.

We are grateful to our friends at Alpha Kappa Alpha for their continued support of The Home!
Learn more about Alpha Kappa Alpha Beta Psi Omega Chapter