AKAs

Alpha Kappa Alpha Soror Provides More than 500,000 Meals To Detroit Residents During Pandemic

22-year-old member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chanel Taylor, created Detroit Benevolent Society, a nonprofit that is providing an average of 50,000 meals each week to those in need.

Chanel recognized that many people were facing food insecurity due to unemployment and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She began to collect food and essential goods and delivering them to homes. The simple delivery system grew into a daily production with dozens of volunteers operating throughout the metro Detroit. The organization received a grant and additional support from community partners. With additional resources, the Detroit Benelovent Society was able to extend its services. They also began to provide care packages, frozen meals for pickup and even free virtual therapy sessions from volunteer mental health professionals.

“Hunger didn’t start from COVID-19, and it won’t be over after COVID-19. Poverty is a current and pressing issue in the city of Detroit and we’re going to keep doing the work to help alleviate it,” Taylor stated.

Chanel was initiated in the Beta Mu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated at Wayne State University in Fall 2019. She is currently a member of the Alpha Rho Omega chapter in Detroit, Michigan.