Brushing up for charity
NW PTK spruces house of elderly
by Keith Ludwick, Reporter

   Residents of Blevins Street stared as a caravan of more than 15 vehicles turned onto their normally quiet street one recent Saturday.
  Most of the homeowners were elderly and stood on their porches and lawns and watched as approximately 25 NW Campus students parked and exited their vehicles.
  At the head of the procession, a cell-phone pressed to his ear, was Michael Villarreal, current president of the Alpha Delta Delta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.
  Villarreal’s mission for the day was to organize the students to paint a house for Fort Worth’s Cowtown Brush Up program.
  The program is responsible for painting homes belonging to elderly, disabled or low-income families. On this Oct. 4, more than 2,500 volunteers would paint 100 homes.
  For the fraternity students, Joe Searcy’s home was their project for the day.
  Searcy, an elderly, soft-spoken gentleman who has difficulty getting around on his own, lives under the supervision of a caretaker. He has lived in the home on Blevins for more than 30 years.
  “I am pleased,” he said about the painting the students were doing for him.
  Wearing matching white, red and blue T-shirts, the students eagerly went to work.
  Villarreal handed out the paints and brushes as other students laid protective plastic on the grass and applied protective tape to the windowsills.
  Neighbors looked on as the NW Campus fraternity members combined work with good-natured camaraderie.
  Irma Galavan was one such student. Studying to become a nurse, she said she got involved with the program because she likes helping people.
  “The community has always given to me, so I’m here to give back to the community,” she said.
  This is Galavan’s first semester as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and she has no regrets.
  That attitude is what Michael Villarreal likes to see.
  “There is no greater cause than a cause greater than ourselves,” he said.
  Lisa Macias, another NW Campus student, said she wanted the experience of helping somebody and did not mind the work.
  “No way! It’s way too much fun to be difficult. I’m having a great time,” she said.
  For Lisa, the best part about being involved in a program such as Cowtown Brush Up is the chance to see the reality of how other, less fortunate people live.
  Villarreal believes more students should participate in PTK and in service projects.
  “Make an effort to get involved. There are more people in the world today who need help than there people to provide that help,” he said.
  Kneeling on a rooftop with a paint roller in his hand, Villarreal is leading by setting the example.
“While I may motivate some students, seeing them giving their time for free motivates me too,” he said.