A sorority has expanded its community service to the Bronx with a new chapter.
Zeta Phi Beta, a black Greek-lettered sorority that dates back to 1920, recently chartered its newest chapter, ‘Alpha Alpha Omega Zeta’, which will provide community service and assistance primarily to neighborhoods of the north and west Bronx.
The newly chartered chapter, which was incorporated by Zeta Phi Beta at the NYS Executive Board at Hofstra University on Friday, September 25, intends to provide Zeta’s signature community services and scholarship programs in low income, underserved neighborhoods of the northern and western parts of the borough, focusing primarily on family and education principles.
Alpha Alpha Omega Zega, which is a black woman-only, post graduate-only chapter, also intends to get involved in resolving domestic violence issues as well as assisting single and pregnant moms and serving meals at homeless shelters, along with other acts of community service for residents in Wakefield, Williamsbridge and Co-op City, among other neighborhoods.
Although only a month old, the newly-chartered chapter is eager to fulfill their mission to service the residents of the Bronx that need support and don’t have a similar organization in their area that can help them.
“Our goal and our mission is to serve communities the best we can in areas that need the most assistance,” said Lisa Billing, Alpha Alpha Omega Zeta’s publicity chair, who has been involved with Zeta Phi Beta since 1991.
“We are very excited to provide for these areas’ residents that don’t have the privilege of having these services closely available to them and we are more than ready to be rooted in these communities to support them.”
Since being chartered, Alpha Alpha Omega Zega has collected toiletries and clothing to donate to the James J. Peters VA Medical Center to support local veterans after developing a relationship with the center.
The chapter has also developed relationships with other community groups in Westchester County, including Sister to Sister International, and plans to collaborate with the Westchester Pan-Hellenic Council on neighborhood missions in lower Westchester County municipalities such as Yonkers, Mount Vernon and New Rochelle.
Currently, Alpha Alpha Omega Zeta meets once a month at the St. Frances AME Zion Church in Port Chester to discuss ideas on how to further service underserved communities in both the Bronx and Westchester.
The chapter will host its debut reception on Sunday, November 15 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, 555 S. Barry Avenue in Mamaroneck.
