December 11, 2003

Volunteer of The Week: The women of Phi Epsilon Phi ETA Chapter

Established in the Oakland/San Francisco area in 1937, Phi Epsilon Phi is a statewide philanthropic sorority with chapters up and down the coast. According to Almaden member Barbara Jungling, fund raising for selected charities is a large part of the group’s endeavors. “We have garage sales, raffles and catering projects,” related Jungling. “We extend a helping hand into the community where there is a need.”

The sorority’s latest project, making dolls and donating them to San Jose’s Next Door Shelter for Battered Women, was the brain child of the late Barbra Le Vesque, who along with her daughter and current member Cynthia Elsberry, cut and sewed the cloth bodies of the eleven dolls, preparing them for each member.

Starting with a “bare” doll, the ladies then added faces, clothing, and unique touches. “We just got the bug this year to do the dolls,” said Jungling, adding that the group would often switch the dolls between them, taking advantage of each person’s particular talents.

“We gave the dolls names and made small journals with the “story” of each different doll,” said Jungling.
Back in February, when the doll project was introduced, some of the Phi Epsilon Phi members were a little surprised, because not everyone knew how to sew. But according to Jungling, once they got into it, everything went well. “We were having so much fun, that we were a little sad when it was over,” she explained. “Our goal has been to make some little girls happy this Christmas with our ‘cloth children.’”

It was Barbara Le Vesque’s wish to donate the dolls to San Jose’s Next Door Shelter. All of the ladies liked the idea of a mother being able to go into the boutique and be able to select a special doll for their daughters.
Although the doll project has been challenging, it was a lot of fun and will bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday.

For more information on the Phi Epsilon Phi Sorority, call President Debi Mc Rhoads at 629-8176.