The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Making a Difference in Southern Illinois

A total of 225 volunteers made a difference for more than 500 people in the Southern Illinois region this weekend. Included among them, a couple of SIUC fraternities teamed up with 130 local girl scouts this weekend, to learn about different ways to improve the environment.

The Beautify Southern Illinois Alliance, along with members from Alpha Phi Omega and Alpha Tau Omega Fraternities, helped Girl Scouts plant trees and make environmentally conscious crafts.

The Girl Scouts participated in the "It's Our World" workshop at Camp Cedar Point in Makanda as a part of the Make a Difference Day campaign.

Adam Acree, president of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, said his organization chose the "It's Our World" workshop because they wanted a more personal experience.

"Personal community service is more memorable to us," Acree said. "It's been a lot of fun today."

Acree said the Girl Scouts also had a chance to teach the fraternity members a few things.

"We learned Girl Scout songs that I would never have learned. They were pretty comical," he said.

Acree said at first the children were a bit intimidated by the fraternity members because they were "big and were boys," but the members grew on the girls and were eventually treated like "big brothers."

Alex Bartolomucci, a senior in agricultural education, said he enjoyed working with children and watching their reaction to the environmental education.

"They're enjoying getting outside, playing in the dirt and planting trees," Bartolomucci said. "They're having an awesome time."

In Turley Park, the Big Brother Big Sister group worked with the Humane Society to educate children about animal shelters and taking care of pets. The Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, Sigma Alpha sorority and Student Alumni Association, all volunteered their time for this event.

Throughout the day, SIUC's Registered Student Organization, the Beautify Southern Illinois Alliance, brought together other campus groups to raise awareness about the environment and participate in reaching out to the Southern Illinois community.

Volunteers had a choice of nine projects in which they could participate, including cleaning up the campus and Adopt-A-Spots, building a mini-wetland with more than three acres in Marion and holding a household hazardous waste collection.

The University approved the Beautify Southern Illinois Alliance in October 2003. The organization is a service-dedicated group that helps beautify the campus and the Southern Illinois region. Children are the focal point for the group, which aims to help teach them at a young age about environmental awareness.

Established in 1990 by USA Weekend Magazine, Make a Difference Day is a national day devoted to helping communities through volunteer services. According to USA Weekend Magazine, more than 2,300 service projects were pre-registered to benefit approximately 30 million people this year.

To get involved or for more information on the Beautify Southern Illinois Alliance e-mail them at beautify@cehs.siu.edu or call Tiffany Heil at 453-7180

 

 

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