The members of Alpha Phi Omega saw almost 400 of Eugene’s homeless citizens flock to Alton Baker Park this weekend on a sunny Sunday afternoon for the organization’s fourth annual Potluck in the Park.
“The Eugene community is kind of separated,” Maggie Callery, University sophomore and Potluck in the Park chairwoman, said in a press release. “There’s this barrier there that’s really hard to break. (Potluck in the Park) gives a chance for us to interact with the homeless.”
APO, a national service fraternity that serves to better the community through social awareness, comprises 35 full-time members at the University. The organization is not affiliated with the University Greek system. APO community service includes tree planting, food drive collections, retirement home visits and public park cleanups. In order to do this service, APO coordinates with individuals and community service organizers, such as FOOD for Lane County, St. Vincent de Paul and Habitat for Humanity, among others.
Potluck in the Park is one of APO’s two biggest annual events, the other being University Day, an event in which APO participates but does not exclusively conduct.
“I joined APO last fall because I wanted to get involved with the community and make a difference,” University sophomore and architecture major Gavin Russell said. “All of us are really close and really good friends.”
Callery said Potluck in the Park began four years ago after an Oregon APO member returned from volunteering at a similar weekly event in Portland. The event in Eugene started out serving only 150 to 200 members of the community but has since grown to great heights, Callery said, thanks to advertising at local shelters and food services such as FOOD for Lane County. Attendance this year was double APO’s expectations.
The volunteers came from APO as well as fraternities and sororities on campus, including Delta Tau Delta and Gamma Phi Beta. They spent their shifts making warm sack lunches that included hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, fruit, green salad and a beverage choice. APO tries to collect a variety of food for the homeless, Callery said.
Giveaway bags filled with canned foods and hygienic supplies were also handed out at the event. St. Vincent de Paul supplied a variety of clothing that was given away with each bag, and each attendee received shirts or pants.
“I was really impressed at the amount of involvement from the campus community,” APO chapter president Brian Carter said. “It was a great way for us to bond not only with the homeless community, but also with the campus community.”
APO also planned bingo games and a cakewalk with blankets as prizes, in addition to food and giveaway bags. Participants played croquet and soccer while children let out their creative side at an arts and crafts center especially geared toward them.
“My favorite part of Potluck in the Park is talking to people,” Callery said. “They’re really good about telling us what kind of food they want, and I love sitting down with them and hearing their stories.”
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