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Take My Hand success leads to infectious generosity

Even though she knew it was coming, Lauren Migliorino still had to catch herself from getting emotional a few times.

Seeing the reality of Take My Hand has often caught the sisters of Bloomsburg University’s Sigma Sigma Sigma chapter off guard during their journey through parts of New York City. It wasn’t the first nor last time.  

“I’ve definitely held back tears numerous times,” said Migliorino, Tri Sigma’s recruitment director who also coordinated the Take My Hand project this year. “When you do good for others, you feel better about yourself and your purpose.”

In its fourth year, the volunteer project created by fellow sister Lena Kaback ’18 serves as a way for the sorority to cap off the fall semester and bring much needed holiday cheer to the city homeless before the sisters head home for winter break.

The project has grown each year and even garnered national attention two years ago in Tri Sigma’s national magazine, Triangle.

“I think the most memorable thing about this year’s project was being able to make a difference, even though it might be small,” Migliorino said. “I think as humans we forget that we ourselves can’t completely change the world, but when people can band together and do something for the greater good, that’s when change takes place.”

Tri Sigma kicked off this year’s project with a GoFundMe to raise money for bus travel to New York City for the group of sisters, totaling about $900, according to Migliorino.

“Raising that money was vital to us, because we had to make it into the city in order to do all of this,” Migliorino said. “We realized that clothing was a more difficult thing to hand out due to sizing, so we opted for more pillows and blankets. We also focused on hats and gloves, because they are more universal. We had a bunch of gift cards to McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts to hand out as well.”

Migliorino added, “A lot of our donations come from fellow students. Our alumni also help us raise a lot of our money, and they put together little care packages each year with things such as feminine hygiene products, tooth brushes, granola bars, etc. None of this would be possible without the amazing support system we have.”

Tri Sigma’s now annual presence in the areas of Manhattan where homelessness is prevalent has started to influence others. Migliorino added that a lot of the homeless were telling the sisters how many more people have taken part in donating to them, whether that be giving them gift cards or blankets.

I’m a Husky

A graduating senior, Annie Pitts is a communication studies major from West Chester. Over the course of her years here, Bloomsburg University has left an impact.

“The biggest impression BU has left on me is the type of growth and maturity college brings,” Pitts says. “It allowed me to grow into a better person.”

Soon leaving the place she called home she will miss Bloomsburg.

“What I’m going to miss most is my friends,” Pitts says. “I've created a core group of people that have been extremely close since freshman year and each year we got closer. It is hard to picture not living down the street from them.”

Annie’s destination after graduation — Philadelphia.

Take My Hand in NYC  

Rain didn’t dampen the spirit or impact of Sigma Sigma Sigma’s annual Take My Hand project in New York City, where the Bloomsburg University sorority handed out an assortment of donated items such as socks, blankets and snacks to the homeless.

In its third year, the volunteer project created by fellow sister Lena Kaback ’18 serves as a way for the sorority to cap off the fall semester and bring much needed holiday cheer to the city homeless before the sisters head home for winter break.

“Around the holidays, I think it’s very easy to forget the true meaning behind it with all of the shopping and presents,” said Toni Rubino, president of Tri Sigma. “We often forget to be thankful for the things we may take for granted like a roof over our heads, food, water and personal hygiene. Having the opportunity to help others in need — and possibly provide them with some of these things — really helps us remember to be grateful for everything we have this holiday season.”

In its short time, Take My Hand has already had a lasting impact on the sorority. 

“Last year was my first time helping out, and I can remember being instantly moved,” said Jessica Murray, Tri Sigma sister who coordinated the project this year. “Take My Hand allowed me see the holiday season from a different perspective. It opened my eyes beyond the receiving aspect and made me appreciate the giving aspect that comes with this season.”

Rubino said in addition to the commonly collected donations this year Tri Sigma alumni created care packages filled with hygiene products and snacks, as well as AGAPE in Bloomsburg donating a substantial number of blankets and granola bars.

“Something we did differently this year was emphasizing the need for socks,” Rubino said. “It’s one of the most needed items but also one of the least donated to homeless shelters.”

Murray added, “I was scrolling on my Twitter account when I saw a viral tweet explaining that many individuals in the homeless community are in need of socks, so that being said I shared the tweet with my sorority and we were able to collect more packages of socks to hand out.” 

In prior years, Tri Sigma was well prepared for the typical brisk December temperatures during their journey through Manhattan in search of the homeless. This year a new challenge presented itself — rain.

“Our initial plan was to start in Port Authority and move throughout the city,” Rubino said. “We headed to Bryant Park, and we also went through several subway stops toward Time Square. We originally wanted to go to Penn Station, but with the distance and the weather we asked authorities where the homeless go during heavy rains, so we chose to focus on those areas instead.”

According to Rubino, they were able to locate and assist roughly 20 homeless people over the course of three hours. The remaining donations were given to Homeless Solutions in Morristown, N.J. and Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton.

“Although this number is lower than prior years, we were happy to help even one person in NYC,” Rubino said. “Helping these people in itself was a memorable experience. These people were so happy to see us open our suitcases (with donated items) and help for them rather than our own personal belongings and luggage. They continued to bless us, and they were so thankful for our help.”

“This project is more than just donating to an organization to help the underprivileged,” Rubino said. “We volunteer and do the work, and make the difference ourselves. We get to see the happiness on their faces and see how much a small donation means to someone.”

According to Rubino, another reason this project is so important to Tri Sigma is because Take My Hand is a project that’s specific to their chapter. Kaback, who founded the project in 2016, was recognized last year by Tri Sigma’s national magazine, Triangle.

“This project really gives all of us a warm feeling,” Rubino said. “Take My Hand is an event we all look forward to every year to start off our holiday season!”

Murray agrees. 

Tri Sigma lends helping hand to NYC homeless

Before heading home for the holidays, a group of Sigma Sigma Sigma sisters made a quick pit stop in New York City to hand out some holiday cheer.

It was the second time the sorority coordinated their own Take My Hand project where they handed out donated items such as food, toiletries and gloves to the homeless. This year they were joined by a few fellow Greek Life volunteers.

“They (homeless) are so thankful people are out there who actually care and are trying to do something to help,” said Lena Kaback, a senior Tri Sigma sister who launched the Take My Hand initiative last year. “Even if it’s nothing big, we are trying to do something. The smiles were endless. From every person sitting on the street who had their head down with their cardboard sign, I can assure you they picked their head up and smiled after receiving some of the items from us.”

This year’s effort was aided by the generosity of Tri Sigma sister Jess Murray’s father, who provided free transportation into the city. As a result, Kaback said, all of the monetary donations went back into the project for McDonald’s gift card and food.

Kaback added Tri Sigma collected care packages from their alumni, which included toiletries and protein bars. Jackets, socks, gloves, scarves and hats were other popular donated items from organizations.

“Luckily the weather was warmer than last year, so more people were outside rather than in Penn Station,” Kaback said. “We got off of the bus and made our way down to Penn Station where we were able to hand out a lot of food and warm clothes to people. We also walked around Madison Square Garden and several side streets, where we were able to help out a lot of kind people.”

According to Kaback, the group hit most of the same areas as last year.

“Next year, hopefully we can organize a different route and get in contact with people who can better direct us to where more homeless people like to hang out,” Kaback said. “After encountering some of these kind people and seeing how hard they are struggling day by day, it honestly makes you want to break down and cry. Although, we were able to give them some food, and a warm coat or blanket, we went back to our homes later that day and they remained on the streets.” 

In the future, Kaback says she hopes to have even more sisters and fellow Huskies get involved.

Tri Sigma launches new service project in NYC

Lena Kaback has always been deeply impacted by the sight of homeless people on the street. Aware of how lucky she is to have a roof over her head and food to eat, the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority sister has always offered whatever she can when she sees them.

Kaback took her desire to help the homeless a step further this year by involving her sorority, which also strongly believes in giving back to those who are less fortunate.

“Being in college, having a roof to live under and having the support system we have as a sisterhood are all things we as a sorority are beyond grateful for,” Kaback said.

Through this philosophy of giving back, Kaback created the Take My Hand event. This event is a clothing and food drive to assist shelters and homeless people in New York City. The Tri Sigma sisters took a bus into Manhattan on Monday, Dec. 19, and walked all over the city to donate warm clothes, blankets, water, food, and care packages. 

Any supplies are left over will be given to the Covenant House, which is a shelter for kids and young adults that have suffered abuse, human trafficking, or abusive parents.

The Take My Hand event idea came to Kaback this time around Christmas last year, when her best friend Emily, another Bloomsburg University student, asked her to go into NYC and hand out items to the homeless. Kaback instantly said yes asked her parents not to buy her Christmas gifts, but instead give her the money that would have been used to buy blankets, clothes, and food for the homeless.

“This event gets us into the holiday spirit for a simple reason,” Kaback explains. “Giving will always be better than receiving.”