Sorority Helps Local Charities

Once a month Sandy Paxton and her Beta Sigma Phi sorority sisters get together to help pack Ziploc bags full of commissary items for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are miles from any kind of store where they might buy basic items such as razors, shampoo, snacks, chewing gum or even personal hygiene products.  

Most of the members of the Beta Sigma Phi live in Land O’ Lakes and travel to Wesley Chapel to donate their time to a nonprofit group called operated by a Vietnam veteran, Bob Williams. Businesses, churches, schools, and other organization make product donations to Support The Troops Inc. then Williams relies on people and organizations like Beta Sigma Phi to help assemble these special care packages, 363 days a year.

Sometimes Beta Sigma Phi collects used magazines, books and golf balls to send. Last month, Randy and Billie Blanchard, residents of The Groves, collected four boxes of stuffed animals at The Groves Community Garage Sale. The stuffed animals were sent to the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan to give to the children they befriend. 

You might even say the stuffed animal have a potential to save lives.   Paxton recalls a story told to her by Bob Williams in which an Iraqi girl had been given a stuffed animal by a solider. A few days later the same little girl sat along the roadside waiting for her new friend to come by in his military vehicle. Once she spotted him, she pointed in a direction down the road and urged him not drive any further.  The soldiers investigated the area and found a roadside bomb.

Postage to send these care packages can run as high as $35,000 - $65,000 per month. Paxton urges people to make cash donations to Support The Troops, Inc.  Last month Beta Sigma Phi presented Bob Williams with a check for $50.

“Each Ziplock bag we pack costs $1 to send,” said Paxton.  “The regular US postal rates apply, so this is it is very expensive to ship these boxes.” 

In addition to Support The Troops, Inc. The Beta Sigma Phi sorority also works to help another local charity located right here in Land O’ Lakes. They collect non-perishable food items, clothing, furniture, toys, and home goods and donate them to the Christian Social Services Thrift Store (The Red Store at 5514 Land O’Lakes Blvd.). Programs include crisis intervention, food bank services, holiday assistance, back to school assistance and more. 

The Beta Sigma Phi sorority was formed in Abilene, Kansas, in 1931.  The local chapter was founded in 1976.  It is a social and cultural organization for women with an emphasis on service.  Today there are fourteen dedicated members of the chapter. Paxton became president in May. 

“Some of these women have been together for 40 years.  They have raised their children together and supported one another all while trying to help others,” Paxton said. 

Paxton, a resident of The Groves, wanted those living in Land O’Lakes to know more about these two special organizations and encourage readers to make donations or volunteer.

For more information about Support The Troops Inc. go to www.ourtroopsonline.com

For more information about call 813-995-0088.