When a hurricane forced Delta Sigma Theta sorority to cut its national convention in New Orleans short a day, the sisterhood didn’t pause to switch from conference mode to service mode.
It donated 17,000 meals it planned to serve at a final conference luncheon Saturday to disaster relief efforts in preparation for Hurricane Barry.
Although we could not hold our traditional Ecumenical Service to end National Convention, National Chaplain Vashti Murphy McKenzie held a moment of Prayer & Praise for sorors still in New Orleans. #DSTconvention2019 pic.twitter.com/F3Fd6q2Nt4
— dstinc1913 (@dstinc1913) July 14, 2019Formerly a Category 1 hurricane, the weather system that hit New Orleans Saturday has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, but not before it knocked power lines down and flooded streets across the Gulf Coast, according to CNN.
Related: Man Seen Swimming on Canal Street as Severe Storms Rage in New Orleans
Nearly 16,000 people were expected to attend the sorority’s biennial conference last weekend, The Washington Post reported.
Instead, Delta Sigma Theta sorority donated macaroni and cheese, chicken, chocolate cake and potatoes au gratin to the Second Harvest Food Bank, an emergency food assistance program.
Beverly E. Smith, the national president and CEO of the sorority, told the Post the sorority was “delighted” to donate to recovery efforts.
“There was inordinate amounts of food that would have been wasted,” she told The Post.
After consultation with the New Orleans Mayor and others regarding the expectation of Tropical Storm Barry, the 54th National Convention will conclude Friday, July 12, per an announcement by Beverly E. Smith, National President and CEO last night.#DSTconvention2019 #DST1913 pic.twitter.com/uAsPvorhkp
— dstinc1913 (@dstinc1913) July 12, 2019The sorority worked with local chef Amy Sins and Centerplate catering in New Orleans to donate the food.
Jay Vise, the communications director with Second Harvest, said it was held in a refrigerator over the weekend and started going out to families Monday.
“We sent a 53-foot truck out here to capture all this food — not just capture it, rescue — all this food that otherwise would’ve gone to waste,” Vise said.
Although Barry didn’t bring nearly as much rain as weather experts anticipated, Vice said some of the food is being staged to go out to shelters.
Anything that doesn’t get used in disaster response efforts will be donated to food pantries and shelters as they need them.
Vice said Second Harvest partners with some 500 organizations.
“So the food absolutely will get to a good home,” he said.
Although their convention was cut short, these Delta Sigma Theta sisters jumped into action to volunteer at our #Barry Relief Kitchen in New Orleans today. We are grateful for the support! #ChefsForLouisiana #DSTConvention2019 pic.twitter.com/9sTxtLjyUP
— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) July 13, 2019ncG1vNJzZmiZpKGur8DAm6Oam5uowaK%2BjZympmdiZX56e49wZmpuX5myrcDAZqqin52WerW0xK2YZpulqcBuv8eoqa1lk6S7t7HNraCopl2eu266xLBkqKqcmq6vv4ydpqeZpJrAbr%2FIrKueqqNifnh8j2lkpp2RocBuwM5mn66qop6worrEZpmaqqKuerOxy6Kcn2c%3D