SAO gathers cans for kids

Sigma Alpha Omega hosted “Dance to the Beat so Kids Can Eat” last Friday night to collect canned goods and provide a fun atmosphere for students. 
The event was supposed to take place on Front Campus, but due to the rain it was moved to the MSU lounge.  The foul weather did not put a damper on the spirit of the party though.
Sarah Riordan, social chair of SAO, said the night was a complete success.  She said they collected over 200 canned goods to send to the GIVE Center, and that everyone had fun.
“It was collaborative for philanthropic purposes and a fun weekend event to keep kids here for the weekend,” Riordan said.
The dance was a costume party complete with Fall foods like candied apples, popcorn and candy.  There was a costume contest, whose winners received gift certificates from local restaurants like Amici, Chops and Domino’s Pizza.  The band Kaleo was the highlight of the evening.
“They were amazing,” Riordan said.
Riordan said this was the second annual costume dance SAO has hosted and that it was a learning experience, especially at being flexible because of the weather.
“We really enjoyed hosting the event,” Riordan said.  “It will be even better with experience.”
Riordan said next year they may raise the admission requirements to include more cans per person in order to have more to send to the GIVE Center.
“We can really make an impact with how many cans we raise,” Riordan said.
Riordan said that service is a big part of what SAO is.  She said, however, that SAO is more about Christian fellowship and accountability.
Riordan said SAO is not technically a Greek organization, but that it is very similar to other sororities.  They have pledge requirements and socials, but Riordan said SAO focuses more on spiritual aspects like Bible studies and accountability. 
“You do have to work for it, but it’s for a different purpose,” Riordan said.
Jenna Green, a sophomore business major and member of the social committee of SAO, said another service project they are doing this year is taking a mission trip to Biloxi, Miss., in December.  Green is in charge of planning the trip.  She said between 20 and 30 girls are going.
A group from SAO went to Biloxi last year as well and worked at distribution centers packing Christmas boxes and providing groceries to families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  They also went through neighborhoods providing whatever service was needed.  Green said they scrubbed floors at one house.
Green said this trip was just another way SAO provides service to people in need.  She said the canned food drive and dance party was a good way to get GCSU students involved in helping the community.
“My favorite part was seeing how excited everyone was,” Green said.  “Everyone was having a good time.” 
Joe Bence, a senior Business Management major went to the dance party and supported the food drive by bringing cans.  He said this year’s party was a success.
“It was better than last year’s,” Bence said.  “It was better organized and more people showed up.”
Bence said MSU provided a more centralized location for the dance and that it actually enhanced the mood of the night and that the close quarters of the MSU lounge made the evening more fun.
He said his favorite part of the night was listening to the band, Kaleo.  The band played crowd songs like “Shout!” and “YMCA.”
“I like how they allow it to be interactive,” Bence said.
SGA Senator David Wilbanks, the representative for SAO’s dance party presented Bill No. 3 to the Senate to allocate $455 to the event.  The bill was first presented on Oct. 18, but due to some miscommunication, it was tabled until the Oct. 25 meeting.
“There was a lot of confusion last week about where the money was allocated to as well as how [the bill] was presented,” Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks and Riordan presented the bill to the Senate last Wednesday, and this time it passed unanimously. 
“I’m actually surprised we got it,” Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks said the dance party was a great idea, and that Riordan’s enthusiasm rubbed off on him and made him excited about it as well.
“I think they’ve done a good job organizing it and getting incentives to come,” said Wilbanks.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 3 2006. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry