Brigitte Bradnick
Features Writer

Millersville’s Delta Zeta sorority hosted its 2nd annual Turtle Tug charity event on Saturday, Sept. 20. The sorority sisters plan and organize this event to benefit The Painted Turtle Camp located in Lake Hughes, California.

Participants of Turtle Tug compete in a game of tug of war, forcing the losing team into a pool of Jell-O.
Participants of Turtle Tug compete in a game of tug of war, forcing the losing team into a pool of Jell-O.

This camp offers a fun, safe environment, built especially for the needs of children ages 6-17 with life-threatening diseases. Campers who attend the Painted Turtle Camp suffer from illnesses such as severe allergies, arthritis, asthma, severe burns, cerebral palsy, colitis, Crohn’s disease, limb loss, muscular dystrophy, and paraplegia to name a few.

Campers are able to enjoy the Painted Turtle’s equestrian center where they can meet horses and go on trail rides, use a private lake for boating and fishing, work at the woodshop center to produce imaginative creations, and even complete a special wheelchair accessible ropes course.

Catering to the needs of the demographic of campers who attend the Painted Turtle, the camp also provides an exceptional 24-hour medical program to support the children’s individual needs, with a physician onsite at all times. Every semester, Delta Zeta raises money that goes towards paying for the campers’ expenses so that families will not have to contribute any costs for their children to attend.

Delta Zeta sorority sister Tabby Hushon said, “Our Nationals heard about the Painted Turtle Camp when it wasn’t as well-known and loved what they were doing, so they chose the Painted Turtle Camp as a Philanthropy in hopes of helping them become more well-known.”

The sisters of Delta Zeta sorority hosted their 2nd annual Turtle Tug on Sept. 20.
The sisters of Delta Zeta sorority hosted their 2nd annual Turtle Tug on Sept. 20.

In an effort to raise money for the Painted Turtle Camp, Delta Zeta organized the Turtle Tug event, which gave registered teams of five the opportunity to compete in a tug of war, which landed the losing team in a pool of Jell-O. The teams were matched up and scored bracket-style until the championship round in which Delta Zeta took on Tau Kappa Epsilon, a Millersville fraternity. Both teams gave it their all, but the Delta Zeta sisters outlasted their opponents and won.

A total of nine teams participated in the tug of war matches, eager to help the cause. Delta Zeta also sold buttons, baked goods and raffle tickets at the event Saturday to raise money for the Painted Turtle Camp. In addition to the tug of war competitions, the sorority also offered free popcorn, bean bag toss games and music to provide additional entertainment for participants and spectators.

Qwan Lewis, a member of the fraterrnity Tau Kappa Epsilon, willingly dives into a pool of Jell-O.
Qwan Lewis, a member of the fraterrnity Tau Kappa Epsilon, willingly dives into a pool of Jell-O.

The sisters of Delta Zeta generously participate in charity opportunities throughout the year, including Adopt a Highway, canning for Starkey Hearing Foundation, collecting tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, Friendly’s Fundraisers for Gallaudet University, and car washes for Operation Smile. The girls complete community service hours individually as well. “My favorite thing about being a part of Delta Zeta is our philanthropies,” said Hushon. “I love being a part of something big that’s making a difference in so many people’s lives every day.”