Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Mu Gamma Omega Chapter on St. Croix received outstanding support for its End of the Year Gift-Giving Program, in observance of the sorority’s Operation AKA Assist initiative. Operation AKA AssistSM is providing assistance and donations to many organizations and groups in need, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mu Gamma Omega Chapter, under the leadership of President Tresa M. Civil and Vice President Lisa Mitchell-Harris, sponsored over 100 Christmas gifts for the residents of Flambouyant Gardens, gift cards for all the youths at the Youth Rehabilitation Center, and food items to families at Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands Bethlehem House.
The chapter received a generous donation from Banco Popular and Carlos Furniture Store for the wish list of residents of Flambouyant Gardens. The residents were delighted by these Christmas blessings that included three dining table sets, four sofas and one queen mattress with a bed frame.
The sorority was also supported by local community resident Lyn Burke and other community businesses such as Island Custom and the V.I. Department of Property and Procurement which sponsored the activity booklets to assist with stress management during isolation. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to do something extra special this holiday season, and we are glad for our partnerships with Banco Popular and Carlos Furniture for their great service to our community,” said Mitchell-Harris, chairman of the chapter’s programs committee.
Residents at the Youth Rehabilitation Center were very happy for the gift cards from the sorority. The sorority also blessed the families at Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands Bethlehem House with many food items they had wished for this holiday season. AKA made this Christmas especially merry and bright for children and families in the St. Croix community.
President Civil expressed sincere gratitude to the residents for allowing the members of AKA to serve them for more than 20 years. “As the Dalai Lama said, ‘If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.’ Being able to give in any way is a blessing, and it is especially important to give back after our community has been through a year like 2020,” Civil said.
