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Gamma Phi Delta Sorority Inc.’s Delta Pi chapter is celebrating 25 years of providing service to the community, from donating Thanksgiving baskets to needy families to collecting new and gently used coats for the annual coat drive, to donating an entire day of food, fun and games to seniors, grooming youth and indeed, raising funds to give scholarships! It is such a blessing to assist parents with the education of children, especially those who may not otherwise make it to college.
There are many organizations, clubs and churches working to host fundraisers to give scholarships to needy students, including Delta Pi. These students remind me of the stages of the beautiful butterfly.
During the early years, there is a struggle, when many parents of our community may not be sure how the child will make it to college. This period reminds me of the caterpillar, which crawls around on its belly!
For example, I was just trying to figure out how to get my son to Morehouse College in Atlanta. My car wasn’t able to take him and we didn’t have the money to fly, but a dear friend happen to call that very moment, and worked out free Amtrak tickets for both of us. Her son worked for Amtrak, and he could get us buddy passes!
Not such a glamorous life trying to figure these things out, is it? But it is a necessary step along the road to becoming a beautiful butterfly. That son of mine, who suffered along with his mother, graduated from Morehouse College in 1998, then went on to the University of Maryland and got his master’s degree in finance. He is now a vice president at a one of the largest banks in the world!
Let us take a look at how the butterfly comes to be. The caterpillar is the long, worm-like stage of the butterfly or moth. It is the feeding and growth stage. As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times to enclose its rapidly growing body.
The pupa is the transformation stage within which the caterpillar tissues are broken down and the adult insect’s structures are formed. The adult is the colorful butterfly. What a lovely species!
When you compare the struggles many families are experiencing, that would fit the caterpillar stage. But in my case, the hardest times are behind me. Now my son can “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” as the late Muhammad Ali said. We are both enjoying our butterfly status!
If you enjoy attending well-planned luncheons, come to The Camelot by Martins in Upper Marlboro for our Butterfly luncheon on Saturday and hear a dynamic message by attorney Georgia Goslee, who made an unsuccessful but historical bid for Circuit Court judge in Baltimore. You will enjoy her message, as she shares how you can move your life to a higher level.
If you join us, you will hear from dynamic women to be honored for Women’s History Month, as well as enjoy the ambiance and food.
Support our scholarship fund so other students can make it through college and finally obtain that job that they desire. The proceeds will also support the chapter’s community service projects, as we feed the homeless and donate to needy children and families throughout the D.C. area. Join me, our President Alicia Anderson and the illustrious members of the chapter from throughout the Eastern region as we enjoy a day of fun, fellowship and purpose!
Lyndia Grant is the host of “Think on These Things,” a radio talk show on WYCB-AM, 1340, Fridays at 6 p.m. Contact her at 202-518-3192 or email her at lyndiagrant@gmail.com.