Volunteers help Tempe Salvation Army with projects

By Lawn Griffiths

Eighty men strong, the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at Arizona State University is a force on the Valley landscape when it comes to volunteering.

Ask the Tempe Salvation Army Corps where a dozen Fijis, as they call themselves, have created a 350 square-foot shaded patio where homeless may find respite and a gathering place. They spent two days removing dirt and vegetation to deposit sand, then laid pavers. Bob Glenn, a contractor and owner of CAJ builders, provided construction oversight.

The secured space is located between the social services building and the worship building and coffee shop on the Salvation Army campus at 714 S. Myrtle Ave. This renovation in particular was the pinnacle of Fiji’s service projects throughout the Spring 2021 semester, wrapping up the weekend with a total 50 service hours under the 93-degree Tempe sun.

Corey Woods, the mayor of Tempe, has a long-lasting relationship with the Tempe Salvation Army, and he stopped by to see the impact of the chapter’s service firsthand and express his gratitude for the time spent giving back to the community for which he is so passionate.

"I had a wonderful time meeting the members of the Fiji fraternity,”

Woods said. “It was great to see students partnering with the Salvation Army to make physical improvements to the facility, put together food care packages, and assist our unsheltered population. So many people have faced unprecedented challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it's wonderful to see our ASU students stepping up to help."

Every hour of community service, to the man, is tracked by the fraternity. Altogether 393 hours of service have been logged since December, while newer ‘brothers’ have given 252 hours. Their records show that in the past five months, Fiji hands have been provided to a diverse array of 20 community organizations and projects.

Fraternity president Taylor Dintzner, an ASU junior majoring in finance, says service is an expectation that comes with belonging to the Phi Gamma Delta, which was established at ASU in 1965 and has more than 850 alumni. “We all strive to get in as many hours of service as we can, and organizations that positively impact the communities surrounding us are prioritized,” he said.

Bob Kawa, chairman of the Tempe Salvation Advisory Board, is one of those alums. He was a Fiji at ASU 1969-72 and fondly looks back on Greek life a half-century ago. “I needed volunteers, and these guys came through. A lot of people in the community weren’t volunteering because of Covid.”

Dintzner likewise said the fraternity, adhering to the guidelines and recommendations of the university, was in a holding pattern awaiting more socially safe conditions, but were eager to get back to volunteering in December. The opportunity arose when Kawa needed bell ringers for the Salvation Army Red Kettles at Tempe stores. The fraternity provided a team for three weekends.

From there, Majors Mario and Claudia Ruiz, the officers of Tempe Salvation Army Corps, stepped in and were diligent in coordinating volunteer work for the Fijis. There were 24 filled assignments to deliver food to Guadalupe, six roles filled delivering coffee, helping with the Salvation Army Angel Tree, plus 72 slots filled for bell ringers. They tallied 137.5 hours with the Salvation Army alone.

Throughout that same period, Fiji also sustained partnerships with other nonprofit organizations. In a matter of mere months, chapter members combined their efforts to successfully complete the following acts of service:

• Donated blood with Vitalant
• Prepared meals at the Feed My Starving Children center in Mesa
• Sorted used medical supplies at Project C.U.R.E
• Packed food at St. Mary’s Food Bank
• Renovated a dog park with the Arizona Shih Tzu and Small Breed Rescue
• Executed a Read > Lead > Achieve one-day car wash event to “inspire a lifelong love for reading”
• Served on a panel for Turning Point, a nonprofit that works with sex trafficking awareness
• Carried out “March for Sight”, an event benefiting the Foundation for Blind Children, raising $316
• Ran a social media campaign “Fiji Suicide Awareness Week” to support the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, raising over $2,000 in one week

In just two months, through a shared passion and dedication to philanthropy, the Fijis amassed 393 service hours, raising a total of $3,734.37 as of April 17.

It is clear that the members of Fiji share a similar mindset when it comes to service. “In helping out, I have the opportunity to give back to the community and help anyway I can,” said Braeden Belnap, a freshman majoring in economics.

Nicholas Nauser, a freshman majoring in sustainability, who has distributed clothing and coffee to the homeless, said, “Whenever I help out, it gives me satisfaction, and I know it will make a difference.”

Phi Gamma Delta has 140 undergraduate chapters in the U.S., plus 61 chapters for graduate students. The fraternity’s stated mission is: “Phi Gamma Delta unites men in enduring friendships, stimulates the pursuit of knowledge, and builds courageous leaders who serve the world with the best that is in them.” It embraces five key values: friendship, service, knowledge, morality and excellence.

Lawn Griffiths is the former Spiritual Life Editor at the East Valley Tribune, an independent writer, author, and longtime community volunteer.