Zeta Phi Beta is not letting kind acts committed on campus go unnoticed.

During its annual Thanks for Giving Week, the service-based sorority takes time before Thanksgiving break to acknowledge those in the community and on campus who have helped them the past two semesters.

On Wednesday, the chapter will recognize individuals who work in Copy Express, the Housing and Dining office and the University Police Department.

Angela Wilbanks, senior in early childhood education and vice president of Eastern’s chapter, said she is excited to hand out the certificates of thanks.

“We can’t do everything by ourselves in the community,” Wilbanks said. “And we are giving out the certificates to those who have helped the Zetas. The people who are getting the certificates have no idea they are getting it, so it will be a surprise.”

In addition to formally thanking specific community members, the Zetas will hand out notes and candy to students on campus. Students will receive the candy with a note attached that wishes them a safe Thanksgiving.

Early in the week, the Zetas will volunteer at organizations that they have helped in the past.

On Monday, the Zetas are going to the Hilltop Convalescent Center, a nursing home in Charleston, to help residents play bingo.

For Tuesday, the group will help the Mattoon Public Action to Deliver Shelter. P.A.D.S. is a shelter that provides food and a room for the night to homeless in the area. The Zetas will help serve lunch and clean up afterwards.

Amanda Bush, junior communications studies major and the Zetas’ parliamentarian, said she thinks it is important to include volunteering to these organizations in their week of Thanks for Giving. The Zetas try to volunteer at least twice a month for organizations like Hilltop and P.A.D.S.

Bush feels strongly about volunteering at Hilltop.

“(In) the nursing home, we want them to know that we have not forgotten about them,” Bush said. “We want to come and see them, someone besides just their families who always visit them. We want to show them we actually care.”

Zeta President Whitney Borders, junior in health studies, volunteered once with P.A.D.S. last year.

She said it was a unique experience.

“It was a different type of volunteering there because we help singles and families,” Borders said. “It’s a shelter; it shows you there is something different out there than those who live on campus or are around comfortable surroundings.”

She believes volunteering at P.A.D.S. is beneficial for participants.

“Getting outside our comfort zone and being there, seeing someone who does not have the same as we do – especially at Thanksgiving time – makes us see what we can be thankful for,” Borders said.

As a final deed during the week, on Thursday the Zetas will donate a turkey and Thanksgiving basket to a local family who would not normally have the resources for a traditional dinner on Thanksgiving Day.

Fact Box:

Monday:

Place: Hilltop Convalescent Center

Address: 910 W. Polk Ave.

Time: 3 p.m.

Event: Playing bingo with the elderly

Tuesday:

Place: Mattoon Area P.A.D.S. (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)

Address: 2017 Broadway Ave., Mattoon

Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Event: Serving lunch to the public

Wednesday:

Event: Passing out thanks to campus offices and “be safe” cards with candy to campus

Thursday:

Event: Donating Thanksgiving dinner to a family of a church