Briana Greco, Assistant Features Editor

Service Day was held on Oct. 26 in Strebel Student Lounge from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event was put on by the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, with the additional help of Student Activities.

The event gave students the chance to give back to the Utica community by donating their time to help create specific items for local organizations in the area. Some things that were created were dog rag ties, PB & Jelly sandwiches, letters for our soldiers and letters for the elderly.

The organizations that these items were donated to were The Humane Society, the Food Bank, the Rescue Mission and St. Luke’s Nursing Home, all in the Utica area. The event also gave students the opportunity to earn two hours of community service towards their personal community service hours.

The service fraternity was also collecting canned goods and personal hygiene items as a way to give back, which is what their organization is all about.

Pledge master for Alpha Phi Omega, George Archundia, stated, “We are donating all the items we are making here today.” Archundia also expressed that belonging to this organization is a big pride of his. “I wanted to give back to the community that has always gave to me. Coming to Utica, I never would have though it would do this much for me personally, so it’s nice to give back.”

Members of the service fraternity sat at each table and punched holes in student’s community service cards so they can earn their hours. Kathleen Arcuri, member of Alpha Phi Omega, was managing the table making PB & Jelly sandwiches for the soup kitchen.

“A fraternity such as this one is important because it teaches people walking through that they can change someone’s day just by taking 15 seconds out of their day to make a sandwich,” said Arcuri.

Alpha Phi Omega’s main three characteristics are leadership, friendship and service. Members of the service fraternity take part in all three of these aspects by attending community service events and working together to better the community.

President of Alpha Phi Omega, Azure Garrett, said a few of the fraternity’s upcoming events is a Student Senate Campus Clean-up, which they will be participating in on Nov. 11, and the organization will be selling tickets at the UC Hockey games with the Make A Wish Foundation.

Ann Ciancia, who is a member of the service fraternity and an intern for the Student Activities office stated, “ I was asked to help out and I think it was a great way to collaborate and help out the community as a whole!”