Sigmas and Zetas partner with Normandie Church of Christ to feed the homeless and disadvantaged

‘Big’ Dave Norman, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

By Tracey Edwards

Nineteen years ago, members of Normandie Church of Christ pooled together their own money, and with the help of a few volunteers, they fed 250 people sack lunches on a Saturday morning. Healing & Hope 4 the Homeless was created that day, and years later, they now give people enough food to last two weeks.

“We service anywhere from 250 to 400 individuals and families every two weeks,” said ‘Big’ Dave Norman, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. “We give out quality food items. Fresh vegetables, chicken, it’s not just canned good items. We cover all of the basic food groups. We give out enough food to get people through the next two weeks; to get them to the next distribution.”

The food is picked up from a USDA food bank in downtown, and is distributed from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Most of the people who benefit from this organization are from South Los Angeles, but some come from other parts of the city as well. People are able to obtain so much food that many of them bring carts or baskets.

“If a person had no other funds to buy groceries, they could survive off of what we distribute every two weeks,” Norman said. “For some homeless individuals, this is their main source of food.”

Volunteers are greatly needed to run this program, and the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. have stepped up to help out. Norman, who is a member of Phi Beta Sigma’s Kappa Delta Sigma Chapter (Carson), invites his fraternity brothers to participate because this event falls under a few of their organization’s national programs. Members of the fraternity throughout the Los Angeles area participate in this event.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority members from Sigma Eta Zeta Chapter (Long Beach), Omicron Rho Zeta Chapter (Inglewood), and other parts of the greater Los Angeles area also volunteer for this event.

Norman said that the Healing & Hope 4 the Homeless program is always looking for volunteers, and it is a great program for high school students who need volunteer hours to graduate.

For more information about this program, call (888) 822-7527 or visit www.healing4homeless.org. Normandie Church of Christ is located at 6306 S. Normandie Avenue.