Stony Brook’s Sigma Beta Honor Society, with 600 members devoted to academic excellence and community service, was involved in many different volunteer projects this year.

One example was on October 11, when six members volunteered to help a woman in Freeport whose home had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Sigma Beta Honor Society members volunteered to restore a home damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

She had spent much of her retirement money on repairs.  Six members of Sigma Beta Honor Society joined other local volunteers in offering their help. Together, the volunteers painted several rooms in her house.

By the end of the day, the volunteers had gained a tremendous appreciation for the manual labor it takes to restore homes after a natural disaster. For many of the volunteers, it was the first time they had ever painted a house.

Naomi Lopez, one of the volunteers and a Steering Committee Member of the society, says, “It felt amazing to be part of the team helping her restore her home even if it was just for one day. “

America’s heroes at the Long Island State Veterans Home were recognized at a Veterans Day ceremony on November 11 with a special gift. The residents and adult day care participants were given new caps embroidered with their specific branch of service.

Members of the Stony Brook chapter of United University Professions (UUP) collected donations to fund the initiative, called Hats for Heroes.   

Each veteran received a cap emblazoned with the emblem of his or her branch of service.

At the ceremony, each veteran was greeted by the UUP Community Service Committee and presented with his or her hat. UUP has been providing donations to the Veterans Home for several years and raised $2,100 this year.

“We’re grateful for the service of our veterans and for the quality of the care at the Veterans Home,” said Arthur Shertzer, UUP West Campus president.

The group raised enough funds to purchase a cap for every veteran at the facility.  

Stony Brook faculty and staff donate to New York  annual State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA)/United Way campaign to help our neighbors in need. This charitable giving initiative helps local, national and international organizations deliver vital services to our community, including over 150 organizations here on Long Island.

One of the many organizations Stony Brook University faculty and staff donate to is the Children’s Hospital Fund.

These organizations provide emergency services, education, health care resources, and funding necessary to research and fight disease.

Nine of the organizations are Stony Brook affiliates: General Scholarship Fund, Children’s Hospital Fund, US Military Personnel Scholarship Fund, Stony Brook Child Care Services, Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, University Hospital Auxiliary, Charles Thide Foundation, Literacy Suffolk, and the Hardship Fund.

Last year, the SEFA campaign raised more than$150,000.  

Visit stonybrook.edu/sefa for more information.