SJRCC PRESS RELEASE November 2007 ST. AUGUSTINE PTK MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY Photos submitted by Jodi Verkleir, PTK president The St. Augustine Campus Phi Theta Kappa chapter recently participated in National Make a Difference Day, an annual event that promotes volunteerism within communities. Members of the Alpha Xi Eta chapter and volunteers partnered with the St. Johns Housing Partnership for the fifth year to repair homes for elderly, disabled or low-income homeowners. The group spent approximately two hours painting an area home until rainy weather halted their efforts. The crew was then reassigned to work on the job site of a home under construction, a new venture for many of the volunteers. "This year was different - doing construction on a new home," said PTK president Jodi Verkleir. "We swept rooms, carried lumber, hung plywood, installed window frames and ran errands - anything that they needed us to do." The Alpha Xi Eta chapter also made a difference in the lives of approximately 30 students from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind by sponsoring a Halloween party on October 29. The annual event included games and activities such as tic tac toe, fishing, bean bag toss, bobbing for apples and cupcake decorating. Participants also enjoyed a haunted house in the Viking Center, a karate demonstration, stories and songs lead by PTK advisor Nell Freeman, as well as cookies, candy and other goodies. Approximately 21 PTK members and volunteers attended the party, one of two events the chapter hosts annually for students from the FSDB. Members also host an annual Valentine's Day party for FSDB students. "It's a great experience," said Verkleir. "You form a special bond with the children. It's cool to see how much they have grown from year to year," she said. Photo captions: Photo top - PTK members and volunteers partner with the St. Johns Housing Partnership to make a difference in their community. Participants were (from left) Andreas Ebner, Jennifer O'Connor, Matthew Lents, Teddy Frost, a volunteer, Daniel Heckman, Jodi Verkleir, Leante Burrows, Rebekah Danielson, advisor Nell Freeman, Olga Vlasov, Joshua Thompson, Kitty Woods and Kim Yerty. Photo bottom - Volunteer Dan Cross plays tic tac toe with students from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Return to SJRCC home page.