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LAPLACE — Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter has been all about the River Parishes, providing volunteer hours and holiday cheer to the seniors and veterans.

This year, the seniors at the St. John the Baptist Parish Council of Aging enjoyed another delightful Halloween Party. The members of Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter volunteered to serve lunch, coordinate party games and dessert decorating contests for the seniors.

October closed with the Zetas of Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage early detection, the chapter participated in the Z-HOPE_® Paint the Church Pew Pink project by attending Sunday Service at New Generation Fellowship, October 23, 2022.  Cancer survivors were recognized and presented with gifts.

November was Military Appreciation time. Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter Military Appreciation Program took place on November 11, 2022. Veterans residing in three St. John Parish and St. Charles Parish nursing homes or assisted living locations were visited. To demonstrate appreciation for the veterans’ service, military theme Thank You cards, and bags of toiletries were presented to each Veteran.

November 27, 2022 heralded the closing of the month and the Zeta Prematurity Awareness Project (Z-PAP)  at Mt. Zion Community Church in Boutte, LA.  A table display provided church goers with a variety of March of Dimes literature promoting healthy prenatal measures, March of Dimes fans and various awareness ribbons. A special March of Dimes and Z-PAP announcement was read by a chapter member at the church service to educate the church goers on the March of Dimes’ efforts to reduce premature births.

December ushered in the closing of the year, but not before Upsilon Mu Zeta accomplished a few more programs.  Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter is an active member of the Greater New Orleans National Pan Hellenic Council.  To promote community service and the joy of reading to children, Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter co-hosted a GNONPHC Storytelling Time for the community young children at Baldwin & Company Book Shop, in New Orleans, Dec 10, 2022.  New toys were collected for donation to several children’s agencies as a community service project.

Part two of the chapter’s Military Appreciation program took place on December 17, 2022, during the National Wreaths Across America (WAA) program.  For the third year, wreaths were purchased and members volunteered to place wreaths on graves in honor and in remembrance of veterans and chapter members’ family veterans.  WAA was held at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, at Howard University, Washington, D.C.  Zeta’s international and local programs include endowment of its National Educational Foundation, community outreach services and support of multiple affiliate organizations.  Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter was chartered in the River Parishes October 22, 2005. The chapter has provided volunteer services, college book stipends and support to local agencies. Upsilon Mu Zeta Chapter continually upholds the sorority’s objectives of scholarship, service, sisterhood and finer womanhood.