The Virginia Xi brothers have been extremely busy since the start of the Summer. Not only have many of the brothers started their jobs and internships in their desired career field, but they have also spent a considerable amount of their time on community service efforts around Hampton Roads.

To begin, during the spring semester we started a chapter initiative to clean up the neighborhoods directly across from campus where most students, faculty, and local workers reside. This initiative began by accident as a couple of our brothers noticed how dirty the streets were while cleaning up a street after an event we hosted. This observation has transformed into a weekly event for the brothers to hang out while contributing to the community. It’s simply referred to as “Weekend Clean Up” and has been a big success with the brothers who are still in town as well as our local neighbors who have cheered us on and thanked us from their porches.

This “Weekend Clean Up” was only the start though. Since then, the brothers have been eager to pursue more opportunities in the community. For example, some brothers came together and helped a local friend, Richard Bridgford, move an extremely heavy organ into his house. So it wasn’t a surprise when Richard called on us again to help his nonprofit organization (Norfolk Urban Outreach Ministries Inc.) deliver 300 blankets to those in need across Hampton Roads.

We obviously said yes and arranged to help and deliver 120 blankets to both Norfolk’s Department of Social Services and Hampton’s Department of Social Services (240 total). Through these departments, the blankets will be given out to those in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and others who are in need of a little warmth. The remaining 60 will be given out by NUOM throughout the year per request by someone in need.

As a whole, our brothers are exceeding all expectations and truly making a difference not only on campus but on the community and those around them as well. Our Chapter President sums up these efforts perfectly by saying, “It’s an amazing effort that the guys have put in over the summer so far to better the community especially with everything going on, but it’s also reminder of how lucky we are to have the opportunities to give back and even be a part of something like SigEp.”