The Theta weekly service program practiced by all New Members and active Members is comprised of Saturday morning three-hour service projects (Saturday Projects) and daily one to two-hour service projects (Midweeks). We serve many different areas of Charlottesville, represented by some of our partners below. Read on to learn more.
Saturday Projects
The bulk of Alpha Phi Omega’s service to the Charlottesville community takes place through “Saturday projects.” On most Saturday mornings throughout the school year, around 70 members meet to serve with a variety of local organizations from 9 AM to noon. After convening over bagels and coffee for fuel at a central location on Grounds, members split into groups of ten and travel to their community sites for the day. For the next several hours, APO members immerse themselves in the tasks at hand to benefit local causes, engage in mutual learning with community partners and citizens of Charlottesville, and strengthen ties of friendship within the fraternity.
On average, the Saturday and alternative projects program contributes 3,000 hours of service to Charlottesville per semester.
The Saturday project program currently serves a number of causes, including:
- Poverty alleviation and services for low-income citizens
- Environmental conservation and sustainable farming initiatives
- Educational and cultural opportunities
- Therapeutic services
- Programming for elderly citizens
- City of Charlottesville services
APO members contribute to an array of tasks during Saturday projects, such as:
- Installing fences and improving walkways at Gallastar, a therapeutic horseback riding farm for children.
- Guiding a Charlottesville citizen through the selection of groceries at the Loaves & Fishes food pantry.
- Using mattocks and shovels to help create a new trail with the Ivy Creek Natural Area.
- Cleaning fire trucks to assist the Stony Point Volunteer Fire Department.
- Sorting books and managing book sales with Friends of the Library at Gordon Library.
- Setting up cots and linens at churches participating in PACEM, a rotating temporary shelter for homeless men and women.
- Constructing a compost bin or gardening bed in partnership with City Schoolyard Garden, which provides gardening opportunities at Charlottesville public elementary schools.
APO greatly values its relationships with Charlottesville partners. Each semester, members serve with about 50 different local organizations.
The Service Vice Presidents of APO coordinate Saturday and alternative projects. We own an extensive number of tools and equipment to use for our service. If you are a local organization or University group seeking to partner with APO for a project, please email thetaservicevp@gmail.com.
Midweeks
Members of Alpha Phi Omega visit a particular set of locations in and around Charlottesville at least once a week each for one to three hour long service projects known as midweeks. There is at least one midweek every day. Midweeks make a deep, long-term impact in the Charlottesville community, as the frequent scheduling of midweeks at sites on a relatively unchanged list enables brothers and pledges of Alpha Phi Omega to nurture each midweek's cause over many years.
Our current midweek partners are as follows:
- ACES Chess at Johnson Elementary
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia (Forest Discoveries Program)
- Golden Living Center Bingo
- Habitat for Humanity
- The International Rescue Committee
- Loaves and Fishes
- Meals on Wheels
- Martha Jefferson Bingo
- Murray High School
- Recycling at UVa
- Special Olympics Soccer and Volleyball
Want to see your organization's name on this list? Email apo.midweeks@gmail.com to partner with us!