At this time of Thanksgiving, we all reflect on things for which we are grateful. Beta Sigma Phi Sorority offers women of all ages the opportunity to make lifelong friends and in times of disaster, those friends can be a lifeline. Hurricane Harvey may have come and gone but the aftermath has lingered for many affected by the rising waters. Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Houston Council, had many sisters throughout the area affected by the storm and reached out offering aid in various ways. The Houston Council’s Vice President and Friendship Chairman, Dolores Fritz of Torchbearer Iota chapter began contacting members to see how many were in need of help. The Council’s President, Sharon Johnson-Munn, a Katy resident and member of Epsilon Chi Master chapter and other board members quickly determined that the sorority needed to assist their sisters as quickly as possible. The list needing help continued to grow.
Members affected by the hurricane had the opportunity to apply for financial aid from the Beta Sigma Phi International Disaster Relief Fund and member Margaret Heimberg of Zeta Gamma Master chapter decided that she, too, could help. Margaret made an initial donation of $15,000 in memory of her husband to the Houston Council and the local council established the Ted and Margaret Heimberg Memorial Disaster Relief Fund to help members of the Houston Council affected by Hurricane Harvey. The fund also accepted donations from other council chapters and members. The fund is the first disaster fund ever established by the Houston Council to aid its own members.
A member benefiting from the International and Houston Council Disaster Relief Funds has been Katy resident, Devon Brown, a member of Epsilon Phi Master chapter. Devon and her family lost their home and possessions when the Canyon Gate subdivision flooded after the release of waters from the Barker Reservoir. Devon and her family are from out of state and having no family near to help, Beta Sigma Phi sisters stepped in. Sorority sisters helped Devon with caring for her young children while she and her husband began the clean-up of their home and other sisters helped by washing all the family’s clothing and linens. A sorority sister even offered their own home so the Brown family had a place to stay. Others helped by donating needed items to the family such as toys for Devon’s young children as all their toys had to be thrown out as a result of flood waters.
The Brown family is starting over like so many families affected by Hurricane Harvey and at this time of counting our blessings, we are all grateful for the many friendships formed through the sisterhood of Beta Sigma Phi. It is said that every friend is a gift, a blessing and a reason to be grateful.