The Gamma Psi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi made a $1,000 contribution to Bryan County United Way to help the agency with its charity work in the county.
Beta Sigma Phi is a worldwide organization that has had a chapter in Durant since about 1954.
“Our organization is a nonprofit organization and we have donated to many organizations through the years,” said Barbara Kramer, treasurer of Beta Sigma Phi. “This year, we chose United Way and in year’s past we have put the Magnolia picture in the library and we have put the concrete seat on the lawn of the courthouse and we try to do what we can for children’s organizations, specifically.”
They also donated $250 to the Texas State Veterans Home in Bonham, Texas, to be used for flannel shirts. Bryan County Youth Services received $350 from Beta Sigma Phi.
Pam Robinson, director of Bryan County United Way, was excited to receive the donation.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time with the way our economy is and I have people every day calling me,” Robinson said. “I probably had six calls today about paying their rent, they can’t pay their rent. They can’t pay their electricity bill. One lady called me and had a $300 water bill. I said, “How did that happen?’ She said, ‘I really don’t know. I wish you could tell me,’ and most of these people are seniors.
“I try to keep a real close eye on our seniors because they’re kind of embarrassed about calling and asking for help, and they’ll say, ‘I’ve never had to do this before,’ and I just tell them, ‘Hey, just be glad you got somebody you can call.”’ Robinson said she has also received calls from people wanting help with Thanksgiving meals. A woman said she wanted to cook her family a Thanksgiving dinner but that she could not afford it. Robinson took her name and number.
“She has a family of five and my board member was in here and she goes, ‘Well, what does she need?’” Robinson said. “I said, ‘Thanksgiving dinner.’” So, we made out a list of what we thought she would need for an authentic Thanksgiving dinner and I called her. I said, ‘Guess what? Somebody is going to adopt your family for Thanksgiving.’ Of course, the lady started crying and I said, ‘Don’t cry. Put a smile on that face.’
“I told her the menu that my board member and I came up with. She couldn’t believe it. I told her, ‘Now you get your choice of an apple pie or pecan pie,’ and what do you think she said? ‘Pecan pie.’ I was so happy she was happy. You could hear kids, three kids they have, in the background jumping up and down and hollering because they’re going to get to have a Thanksgiving day dinner. We will have it here Monday before Thanksgiving so she’ll have time to thaw out the turkey.”
According to Robinson, these donations really make a difference.
“I think it’s going to help a lot more than what we think and it’s incredible to me the phone calls I’m getting and it’s the same way everywhere, at Hands of Hope, we’re all getting those calls,” Robinson said. “They are out at Big Five and so I’m just so excited about everybody stepping up to the plate because this is the time to step up.”
