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Public Service
The Joliet Area/South Suburban Alumnae Chapter is dedicated to creating a positive impact through our diverse range of outreach programs. As you explore this section of our website, you'll witness the transformative initiatives we've undertaken to uplift and support the communities we serve. From education and healthcare to social justice and empowerment, our programs are designed to address the unique needs of each community.
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Over 530 Joliet area children and their parents lined the streets waiting for a chance to meet Santa and choose a toy from his Toy Room. The Joliet Area/South Suburban Alumnae Chapter (JASSAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in conjunction with Jassac Charitable Foundation, Inc. held its 26th annual Breakfast with Santa Event on Saturday, December 5th at Washington Jr. High School. Families were lined up for over an hour anxiously waiting for the doors to open. Upon entering, the children were treated to a warm breakfast, had the option to choose a new coat, a hat and gloves set, and a new handmade scarf. In addition to receiving a toy, every child was entered into a raffle for a chance to win a brand-new bike! The Joliet Park District was on-site providing residents with information on various community programs, along with the Joliet Public Library signing up residents with new library cards. The JASSAC Social Action Committee was also on-hand to register new voters.
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K.I.S.S. 100
The focus in prior years has been on 4 general service recipients: schools/community centers; military members; hospitals; and nursing homes.
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One hundred (101) care packages/baskets (acts of Kindness) were prepared and distributed as follows:
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22 to schools/community centers; these contained paper, pens, folders etc.. We sent one to all of the schools/community centers where we have had events in the past as well as some others;
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22 to troops: these boxes were sent to soldiers (preferably ones that Sorors know) across the country and contained, granola bars, socks, razors, etc.;
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22 to hospitals staff: these contained treats;
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22 to a hospital that were delivered to sick children: these contained a stuffed animal, coloring book and crayons etc., and
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13 nursing homes: (preferably ones where Sorors have friends or family members) these contained perfume, mints, stuffed animals, etc.
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Blessings in a Backpack
No child should go hungry. Today, nearly 70 percent of children in the U.S. are on the federal Free and Reduced Price School Meals program, totaling nearly 31 million students. This federal program provides food for these students during the week, but most of them have a difficult time obtaining food during the weekends. This is where Blessings in a Backpack comes in.
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JASSAC Deltas have partnered with Blessings in a Backpack, a 501(c)3 organization that, through an all-volunteer network, mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who face food insecurity.
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Each month members of the sorority make sure that students in the South Suburbs have food for the weekend by purchasing food and stuffing backpacks for distribution to local students. Each child receives on Friday, a backpack full of food for the weekend. Blessings in a Backpack currently provides nearly 3 million hunger-free weekends to more than 78,000 children in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
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