Sisters Incynch contines its mission to help the community
By Kate Dashiell
Sisters Incynch is a volunteer organization at Hudson Valley that is advised by Tamu Chambers and made up of students who would like to serve the community.
“I want the students to enjoy Sisters Incynch so it doesn’t seem like work and they do. They all bond as a group because we have something in common,” said Tamu Chambers professor of history, philosophy and social sciences.
The club travelled to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and after witnessing the hardships of the families who lived in the area, the group looked to further promote service learning.
After returning to Hudson Valley, the group collected clothes, food and other needed items and sent them to the people they had met in New Orleans.
But after seeing what it was like to be a person in need, members of Sisters Incynch decided they wanted to set up a program that would provide long term benefits to those that they helped.
This is how Katrina’s Closet came to be. The mission is to provide professional clothing to anyone who needs them. The room, which is located right outside of the Maureen Stapleton Theatre, is filled with clothes that have been donated to the group.
According to Tamu Chambers, many people that visit Katrina’s Closet are living on low incomes and must go on job interviews without professional attire.
“If they get the job, we have them come back and [we] supply them outfits to wear to the job,” said Chambers.
The group also offers training and seminars on how to succeed in the workplace. This includes writing resumes and how to have a successful interview.
Every year, Sisters Incynch also holds a holiday fundraiser.
In the past they have chosen to donate to Hope House, a residential recovery program in the Capital District.
They have also participated in Operation Christmas Child, a volunteer effort headed by Samaritan’s Purse to send boxes of donated items to children around the world.
Under the advice of Hudson Valley Director of Student Life Louis Coplin, they chose to fundraise for Caregivers of Albany this year.
The Dental Hygiene department donated dental care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss, all of which were requested by Caregivers.
“At the end of it we tugged away a huge cart and four large boxes filled with items to give to Caregivers,” said Ashley Dunbar, vice president of Sister’s Incynch.
Students also went to T.J. Maxx and purchased coats to donate with their own money.
“It’s nice to know this organization is helping people in need for what they need now. It’s like paying it forward and you hope they’ll do the same for someone else,” said Lauren Aitken, president of Sisters Incynch.