Gamma Pi Looks Back on a Full Holiday Season of Providing UPLIFT

Gamma Pi helped make the holidays special for seniors, youth and families in the DMV during the 2014 Thanksgiving and Christmas season, pulling double duty for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Brothers loading Thanksgiving turkeys for giveaway

The Super Chapter started the holidays by joining forces with the Brothers of Lambda Gamma Gamma chapter in the Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Baskets Giveaway for seniors at the Windsor Crossing complex in Suitland, held during the evening of November 25, 2014. Brothers delivered a total of 100 turkey baskets.

Every year, seniors look forward to the men of Omega Psi Phi starting off their holiday period in the right spirit. Turkeys for the giveaway were loaded onto the truck earlier in the day at the Share Food Warehouse in Hyattsville. The dinners were purchased by Friendship Charities (www.friendshipcharitiesinc.org) and Lambda Gamma Gamma.

Shortly after the Windsor Crossing project, Gamma Pi collaborated with the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Sista 4 Sista to deliver turkeys to families in the Kentland community, where Gamma Pi operates its successful Que Kidz Dayz initiative.

Turkeys ready for delivery

The Brothers assembled a strong team of nine, under the leadership of Brother Orlando McDowell, who heads Que Kidz Dayz. Brothers set up a classic assembly line with bags flowing from the docks at the Share Food Warehouse in Hyattsville to waiting vehicles to be driven to Kentland. The trkeys were gathered at Reid Temple AME for dissemination at the Kentland Community Center by Sister 4 Sister. Once the loading process was complete the caravan was off to Kentland. About 75 to 80 turkey dinners were given away. 

As the holiday moved from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the Brothers of Gamma Pi held the annual Christmas Party for the families of the Suitland area on December 2. It was a little earlier than previous years. The event took place at Suitland Elementary School during the evening. Friendship Charities (Gamma Pi) and Lambda Gamma Gamma chapter purchased toys for approximately 80 children, ages 3-13. The Suitland Citizens Association prepared refreshments for the guests.  Brothers were sporting the colors which area huge signal that “something good is about to happen” for the residents of Suitland who have enjoyed Gamma Pi events and projects for many years as the chapter’s ”adopted community.” 

Santa (Bro. Tony Lee) and Bro. Bleu Colquitt start holiday

For the first time, the Brothers (led by the Que Kidz Dayz team) joined Sisters 4 Sisters and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to hand out Christmas gifts at the Kentland Community Center on December 6, which was a Saturday.

“All in all, it was a very productive and exciting holiday period for Gamma Pi chapter, made better by the fact that we helped make the holiday special and memorable for others in the community,” said Basileus Brian K. Long. “ This is what the Uplift part of our creed is about.”

More photos below. Thanks to Brothers Ken Jones, Don Cook and Bleu Colquitt for the information and photos.

The whole crew relishes a good job!

Kids waiting in line for Santa at he Suitland party 

Basileus Brian K.Long posing with Santa

Bro. Mel White (left) leads crew in Thanksgiving giveaway 

Community members enjoying Suitland Christmas party