Tekes Volunteer During Break

Fraters Spend Spring Break Volunteering

While many choose to spend their spring break on the beach, a few chose to spend their time giving back. Alternative spring breaks are growing in popularity across the country. These trips allow students to experience different cultures, think critically, and learn about social issues.

Frater Eric Grinde and Frater Clayton Long from Epsilon chapter chose an alternative spring break.  These Fraters along with 15 other members of the Fraternity and Sorority community at Iowa State University made the trip from Ames, IA to Indianapolis, IN during spring break to share in this experience.

While in Indianapolis, members of the Greek Alternative Spring Break spent their time volunteering at Horizon House, a non-profit organization that focuses on ending homelessness. Horizon House is a day shelter for the homeless, or as Horizon House likes to call them, neighbors. They assist the homeless with job preparedness training, resume building, and computer training. They also offer services such as mailing addresses, laundry, showers, new clothing, legal consultation, and medical attention.

Frater Long spent time in Indianapolis assisting the medical staff at Horizon House's clinic. He plans to share insight he gained with Iowa State University organizations that focus on the medical and non-profit fields.

When asked about why he was originally interested in the Greek Alternative Spring Break, frater Long said, "I've always been interested in healthcare for the poor and underrepresented. I got in touch with the head doctor at Horizon House two years ago during the first Greek Alternative Spring Break at Iowa State, created by fellow TKE member Jon Turk. Since then, I've been researching homeless healthcare and was excited to get a closer look during this year's visit to Indianapolis."

"Nothing has ever been so rewarding to work alongside fellow Greek members in making a difference in everyday lives. I am proud to admit that, as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, I spent my spring break serving others with fellow Greeks instead of being somewhere on a beach with thousands of other college students," mentioned frater Grinde.

Grinde, a graduate of the Charles R. Walgreen, Jr, Leadership Academy, and former Prytanis stated "I definitely found a deeper purpose and meaning in the community service and philanthropic work we do. There is still so much more we are capable of."

The group took advantage of the opportunity to visit several fraternity and sorority headquarters while in Indianapolis. The participants capped things off with an impromptu visit to Tau Kappa Epsilon Headquarters.

Fraters like Eric Grinde and Clayton Long certainly exemplify Love, Charity and Esteem. Better Men for A Better World is not just something you say, it is something that you do.

Don't forget to log the service and philanthropy that your group has done this year! Record your groups' community service and philanthropy at module.tke.org, and donate directly to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on behalf of the fraternity at stjude.org/tke.