WEST PLAINS – October is when members of the international education sorority Alpha Delta Kappa honor their founders by providing service to the community.
The local ADK chapter, Alpha Nu, is continuing this tradition even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic that has changed the look of instruction — which in Cheney, Medical Lake and many other school districts is now mostly online line rather than in person.
Alpha Nu member Bonnie Sullivan said the chapter, which is comprised of 50 current and former educators from Cheney and Medical Lake School districts, votes each year on how to best to utilize the $5,000 – $7,000 it receives from its only annual fundraiser. This year, the group voted to focus on the needs of West Plains schools by providing items such as snacks, mittens, gloves and socks, zippered notebooks and service “where we are needed.”
Past examples of Alpha Nu support efforts include special baby bottles to children with cleft palates and valentines for children and seniors at Cheney Care Center, gently used items for Lakeland Village’s thrift store and furnishing and distributing books through the Christmas Bureau. The chapter has also cleaned and furnished apartments at Spokane’s Alexandria House, Hope House and Morning Star Boys Ranch while providing scholarships to high school juniors and seniors who declare education as their major along with teachers working on advanced degrees.
Sullivan said they hope to get to every school building in the two districts to provide assistance. She said they know the only individuals currently in the buildings are teachers and some students who have been identified as having the greatest need of additional educational support that requires some in-person instruction.
“Even thought it’s virtual, they still have needs and we want to be able to help families,” Sullivan said. “We’re ready and willing to do whatever we can.”
According to its website, Alpha Delta Kappa was founded in 1947 by Kansas City-area teachers Agnes Shipman Robertson, Marie Neal, Marion Southall and Hattie Poppino. Since then, over 125,000 women educators have been members, finding “opportunities for recognition of commitment to educational excellence, for personal and professional growth and for collectively channeling their energies toward the good of schools, communities, the teaching profession and the world.”
Sullivan, who has been an Alpha Nu member for 25 years and taught 29 of her 36 years in education at Cheney, said the chapter is also working on plans for this year’s fundraiser. The event is an auction of items and services produced by chapter members, and takes place annually the second weekend in December.
With such gatherings under current COVID-19 Phase 2 restrictions limited to no more than 10 unrelated individuals, and Phase 3 restrictions bumping that to no more than 50, Sullivan said they are trying to come up with different ways to hold the auction – proceeds of which all go to charities.
“We will try to have it though,” Sullivan said.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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