By BRITTANY WALL

Staff Writer

Though Christmas is normally considered the "season of giving," the Gamma Beta Phi Society has extended that season into January with a number of volunteer activities.

Gamma Beta Phi, which is both an honor society and a service organization, coordinated one such activity Jan. 5 in Ruston.

The group held a city clean-up, where approximately 20 members walked the south end of Trenton Street and picked up trash along the road.

The area is where many of the town's residents and students go to hang out, shop and eat, Megan Cuevas, the president of Gamma Beta Phi and a senior mathematics education major, said.

"We wanted to do something to help out the city and make sure we keep the city looking nice," Cuevas said.

The organization also traveled to the Monroe Food Bank on Jan. 8 to assist workers in preparing food baskets for needy families. Cuevas said the baskets, which contained things such as canned foods and other non-perishable items, were then delivered to these families.

The society, which has been in existence since 1964, is a non-profit, scholastic, honor, education-service organization that recognizes and encourages excellence in education, Margaret McCauley, National Executive Director, said.

McCauley said the society promotes the development of leadership ability and character in its members and improves education by appropriate service projects.

"We will also be having a coat drive until Friday," Cuevas said.

"The coats will go to children who do not have anything to keep them warm during the winter season."

The group will also collect care packages for troops overseas until Jan. 21.

The packages will include items such as international phone cards, toiletries and nonperishable foods, Cuevas said.

Group members also receive service points for their volunteer activities.

The members said they get more than just points for their work -- they get a sense of involvement.

"I love being a part of [Gamma Beta Phi]," Christopher Dwyer, a sophomore chemical engineering major, said. "We get to help people and show others in the community that we really appreciate them and want to do things for them."

Dwyer said being involved in the community makes him feel like a better person.

"Even though I am not from around here, the feeling I get from helping out another person is so overwhelming to me.

"The fact that it's not something that you're doing for money or by force makes it feel better to you and probably others.

"It's just the right thing to do."