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needed for all areas of giving. Kathy also fosters camaraderie outside our scheduled meetings. She
enthusiastically encourages and joins book club meetings, Bucks County Playhouse shows, and cookie
exchanges. Camaraderie encourages the engagement of ideas to support those less fortunate.
Karen simply gives her heart in all four seasons. Watching her lead ignites a spark throughout our
membership. The depth and consistency of Karen’s dedication
to her community shines as a strong example of how to
give of oneself to others. Through her acts of kindness, she
educates others to the possibility of all types of generosity.
Karen will never admit it, but what she does is the definition
of the word “effort.” Karen’s weeks include myriad forms of
selfless giving. When not gathering food for food banks, she
is organizing, planning, and distributing products to targeted
locations in the Philadelphia area.
Another example of Karen’s altruism has been her desire
for our chapter to support the Kin Wellness Center (www.
welcometokin.org) in Furlong, Pennsylvania. The Center
began with the wish of a cancer patient, Corinne Sikora, who Pilsen Pals - Czech Republic ©
imagined a place where patients could go to gather, to relax, Photograph by Cathy Tenney, Ohio;
and to feel whole again. The Kin Wellness Center was given Spring 2024 Art Gallery
the breath of life through the continuous effort of numerous local agencies. Each day, “behind the scenes”
cancer support is in full gear. Cooking classes, yoga fitness, and therapeutic massage are only a small
sampling of what is available at the center. Sikora passed away on November 5, 2022, but her unselfish
wish will live on through passionate and continuous community efforts, including those of Alpha Nu.
Karen did not just read about the Center in an article and send a check. She visited the location
and talked to the management. She ascertained what was needed, and she congregated her Alpha Nu
community. She displayed a poster indicating what items were needed, as well as pictures of sample bags
that she had created. The process continued as our chapter members gathered the supplies needed. Karen
and Barb Tantala, another member, delivered more than 50 comfort bags to the Kin Wellness Center. Each
comfort bag included materials that would provide relaxation: fuzzy socks, Chapstick, mints, candy, hand
sanitizer, and so forth. This civic initiative continues throughout the year.

Impact
When I reflect on the all the effort Karen gives in support of her community and the passionate work
of Alpha Nu Chapter, my thoughts bring to light all the “behind the scenes” actions of selfless people
who never get acknowledged. These include the people who pick up the donations that are casually put in
storage containers outside churches and other drop-off locations and the people who set aside time in their
busy lives to give their best to those less fortunate.
The heart and the passion of giving lives in all of us. It is not easy. It takes unwavering effort, as evident
in all the people “behind the scenes.” I am proud to be in The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
with its Mission of promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in
education. Without question, Alpha Nu Chapter is a group of strong, smart women with a sincere mission
to execute community support with grace and generosity. I hope many chapters share Alpha Nu’s purpose:
not simply to be “seen” but also to be “heard” through work for the community.

Assunta Anzalone Deliman, MEd, is a retired reading specialist, English teacher, and adjunct professor at Rider University. She has taken
the lead on communications for Alpha Nu Chapter in Pennsylvania State Organization for the past 2 years. adeliman3@gmail.com

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