CHAPTER NEWS
Addressing Hunger in the Local Community During the Pandemic, Fellowshipping in the COVID-19 Era
By Quentin A. Mitchell
W ith a global pandemic, the world is in uncharted ter- ritory. Schools are closed, unemployment drastically increased, and there is a general panic in society. One of the many worries of this period is the basic necessity of food. There was an alarm at the gate and we an- swered the call. The Kappa Charitable Trust Fund, Inc. led a collaboration between the Food Bank of Eastern NC, Southeast Raleigh Table (SERT). Items were donated via corporate sponsors to the Food Bank of Eastern NC. We were able to work with the Food Bank of North Carolina to host the distribu- tion event. We provided the location, manpower, and helped with logistics, the Food Bank of NC provided the food. We had 17 brothers from the Ra- leigh (NC) Alumni Chapter. In addition there were over twenty other volunteers made up of family and friends of the chapter. The brothers and volunteers packed over 900 meal boxes and served over 24,000 pounds of food. The Food Bank of NC commended us for having the most successful drive during the COVID 19 pandemic. The Kappa Charitable Trust Fund, Incorporated (KCTF) was formed on February 10, 1995 and received its 501(c)(3) status by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. It was organized exclusively to manage the charitable, educational, and youth programs germane to the existence of the Raleigh Alumni Chapter. On the evening of June 8, 2020, Raleigh Alumni held a Zoom video conference call event to celebrate their Senior Kappa’s. This event was cre- ated by the Senior Kappa committee members Brother Sam Greene, Brother Thomas Burt, Brother William Powell, and Polemarch Brother Clem Lacy. There has been a recent focus on recon- necting with the senior brothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main purpose of the event was to celebrate
the senior brothers by letting them reflect and share stories on their journey in Kappa. The result of the evening be- ing an evening of reflection, inspiration, bonding, and lessons learned. Close to thirty brothers were on the program to share their reflections and stories. There were many brothers who served Kappa on the chapter, province, and na- tional levels. Many awards won, success found, leaders discovered, and chapters charted from the brothers on the call. Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Brother William E. Hooker was a participant who shared how others that came be- fore him paved the way for his success. Then in turn many brothers referenced Brother Hooker and other senior broth- ers who paved the way for them in Kappa and in life. A couple of Brother Hooker’s former students followed him and became leaders in Kappa them- selves. It is very evident that the “ Ole Kappa Spirit” transcended over time. There were stories of the bond helping further young professional careers and building foundations of success through mentoring. Long lasting influences over family, spiritual, and professional life. A few brothers were fortunate enough to meet a couple of our founders. One
common theme was being challenged and called into leadership. Raleigh (NC) Alumni Polemarch Brother Clem Lacy shared the African Proverb “The youth can walk faster but the old heads know the road.” For our fraternity to sustain itself we must know the road! “It is important that we continue, in the tradition of our elders, of bringing our Fraternity together so that we may support one another, through fellowship, as well as discover our talents possessed, and goals achieved. As we move forward as a cohesive Fraternity, we must con- tinue to support UNITY and ACHIEVE- MENT from Generation to Generation.”
THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER-FALL 2020 | 79
Publishing achievement for more than 105 years
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