The day of giving is only in it's 2nd year but fraternity members hope it will become a nation-wide event
TRENTON - The struggles that can come with being a single mother living in Trenton are not lost on Billie Aponte.
The College of New Jersey graduate and brother in the Lambda Theta Phi Latin fraternity said he grew up with a single mother who sometimes struggled to make ends meet.
So it's only fitting that Aponte - along with several of his fraternity brothers - gathered Saturday to divide up $800 worth of food and distribute it to families in need around Trenton, many of which were single-parent families.
"We wanted to give back to the community," Aponte said, noting that he felt a connection to the 10 families.
"It touches my heart to see that we're giving single mothers joy," he said.
The program, which is called Lambda Giving Day, is only in its second year but already it has reached brothers of the fraternity across New Jersey, Connecticut and Eastern Pennsylvania, Aponte said.
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This year the Trenton-area group raised $800 - primarily through donations from fraternity members - and used the money to buy food staples for families in Trenton.
Aponte is not alone in feeling a connection to the families in need - many of the other brothers in the fraternity grew up in inner cities, he said.
For the brothers, it was a way to give back and give hope to those communities.
"If we've done it, they can do it also," Aponte said.
Part of that giving back came in the weeks before the giving day itself. Members of the fraternity met with each of the 10 families before the donation day. They gave advice, prayed together and talked about the fraternity and what they do, Aponte said.
For now, the day is a relatively small event. It's gained popularity around only a few states on the east coat but Aponte said he hopes one day it will become a nation-wide tradition.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.