UMaine fraternity, sorority lend hand at new Manna facility

BANGOR – About 50 fraternity brothers and sorority sisters from the University of Maine lent a hand Sunday at Manna Inc. on Main Street, painting the third floor of the building that will house a new drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit.

Beta Theta Pi fraternity sent about 30 students and Alpha Phi sorority contributed 20 more as part of a community service project.

The students were scheduled to paint from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. but had everything finished by 1:30, according to Manna’s executive director, Bill Rae.

“Every hand was doing something. This is what community support is all about,” Rae said Sunday, adding, “They worked hard to get out of here and enjoy the day.”

“We were prepared to stay until 4 p.m., but everything went so quick,” said Eric DeGrass, philanthropy director for Beta Theta Pi.

DeGrass said his fraternity has been working with Manna on a regular basis.

“Last spring we committed to going there once a week,” he said. “Each brother will make at least one visit during the semester.”

Alpha Phi president Kaylee Cooper, a fourth-year student, said a little less than half of her sorority was present Sunday to assist Beta Theta Pi.

“We just help out when they need bodies,” she said.