Delta Sigma Theta hosts pancake breakfast, educates public

The Bloomington Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. held its fifth-annual pancake breakfast Saturday at Longhorn Steakhouse.

The fundraiser was open to the public from 8 to 11 a.m.

For five dollars, patrons were served a pancake breakfast and a lesson about health and literacy.

The women of Delta Sigma Theta provided health information on heart disease and diabetes and distributed voter registration forms and health insurance applications.  

Additionally, Delta Sigma Theta organized a book drive for Habitat for Humanity with the goal of promoting literacy.

All of the money gathered from this fundraising event will go to the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, which is a program under the larger umbrella of the National Girls Collaborative Project.

The Delta Academy was named after a fellow Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister and Malcom X’s widow.

Its goal is to shape well-rounded young women by focusing on African-American history, literacy, character development, healthy choices and service learning, according to its website. It targets girls ages 11 to 14.

“We assist African-American girls in middle school to give them information on the arts, to give them empowerment and to provide them with information on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) initiatives,” said Mary Howard-Hamilton, president of the Delta Sigma Theta Bloomington Alumnae Chapter.

Fundraising is essential for the existence of the Delta Academy. They provide free programming, activities, tickets to plays, T-shirts and transportation to all of their
events.

“We don’t want our academy girls to spend any money on anything ... so every penny we raise here goes into our Academy,” Howard-Hamilton said.

The Academy girls meet once or twice a month, with their site varying depending on the activity or event, Howard-Hamilton said.

In addition to meeting their academic initiatives, the academy girls participate in volunteer activities. They have filled boxes with toiletries to donate to the homeless and to mothers who couldn’t afford to buy them for their children, academy member Taja Cuthkelvin said.

Delta Sigma Theta coordinated the pancake breakfast as part of Bloomington’s Black History Month celebration.

Events will continue throughout the month and will include a theatrical performance, an essay contest and a gala, among several other functions.

Follow reporter Javonte Anderson on Twitter @JavonteA.