Labor of Love: The Power of Community to Help Others 

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY GAMMA PHI BETA

Stephanie Duncan Evelo’s unwavering commitment to helping others is contagious — so contagious that this past fall, when Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction across the southeastern U.S., Stephanie rallied her small town of Lapel, Indiana, to organize a massive donation drive for another small town impacted by the disaster. From a young girl to a Gamma Phi Beta and a successful Realtor, Stephanie’s journey has always been about using her skills and connections to make a positive difference.

Stephanie, who loves her small hometown of Lapel, has only ever left it twice: first for college, attending Indiana State University, and later as a collegiate leadership consultant (CLC) for Gamma Phi Beta after graduation. Reflecting on her college days, Stephanie shares that joining a sorority felt natural — and choosing Gamma Phi felt even more so. During recruitment, she formed instant connections with the Gamma Phis. “I loved that Gamma Phi Beta stood out as a place where I could be my most authentic self rather than fit into a particular mold. Joining meant connecting with a like-minded community of women striving to uplift one another, and I wanted in,” she says. After college, Stephanie hit the road as a consultant, visiting Gamma Phi Beta chapters across the country before returning home to Lapel.

Stephanie’s personal mission — to make a difference, change lives and leave a legacy — guides every aspect of her professional work as a Realtor and business owner. Her real estate firm donates a percentage of their commissions to causes close to their hearts, including Filter of Hope, an organization that provides clean drinking water to underserved communities in developing countries. After the recent flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, Stephanie and her team expanded their efforts, raising funds to purchase filters for the affected areas in Western North Carolina.  

When Hurricane Helene hit in late September 2024, news of the devastation was inescapable. While federal organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided relief to larger cities, smaller towns continued to suffer. As Stephanie went about her day-to-day work, she felt increasingly unable to sit idle while so many people were in need.

“There were people literally dying from lack of water and basic needs,” Stephanie says, while getting choked up. “It was surreal that we were going about our regular lives as if nothing had happened, just because we weren’t physically affected here. So, I said to my husband, ‘Okay, what resources do we have? How can we help others right now?’”

The couple decided to turn to their community, hoping to fill a 14-foot enclosed trailer they had sitting empty in a storage unit with donated goods. Once the trailer was full, Stephanie and Derek planned to make the trek from Lapel to another small town, Minneapolis, North Carolina, to help those who needed it most. Stephanie took to Facebook, calling out to her networks near and far for anything they could donate — water, food, clothing, blankets, medical supplies, toiletries, feminine products, baby products — and invited people to drop off items on her front porch or at one of her two real estate offices. The next morning, Stephanie woke up to the unimaginable.

“That post was shared and reshared by local organizations, vendors and Lapel residents in under 24 hours. There were so many items in my front yard that it looked like we were moving, and my real estate offices looked the same,” Stephanie says. “What’s even more incredible is that the donations just kept coming.”

Stephanie and Derek quickly realized that they had more donations than their trailer could hold. They added their suburban and flatbed trailer to the mix, but still, they needed more room. They ended up with a packed suburban, a rented U-Haul truck that pulled a 14-foot flatbed trailer full of water, a borrowed heavy-duty truck that pulled a 14-foot enclosed trailer full of donated supplies and a large rooftop cargo carrier. Stephanie laughs, “It was a whole fleet – that’s how much stuff we had!”  

It was essential to Stephanie that the donations reach those who needed them most, which is why she decided to travel the 521 miles to Minneapolis, North Carolina. “One of our real estate team members, Hannah Perkey, had a close friend whose family lives in Minneapolis. She shared how the town, which is so small and difficult to access, was hit horribly by the hurricane,” Stephanie explains.

As Stephanie reflects on her experience in Minneapolis, it’s clear that what struck her most was the deep sense of community she encountered. “The people there were so kind and so gracious,” she shares, her voice shaking with emotion.

“Even though they were going through their own devastation, they still made sure others who needed help more got it first. It was incredible to see neighbors helping neighbors, everyone pitching in to make sure the town could get back on its feet. The strength and resilience of that community was truly moving.”

Stephanie’s community movement, which she called Lapel’s Labor of Love, highlights the power of community, and the incredible impact one person can have when they take action. “Seeing the response, the generosity, and the way people helped each other — it just fueled my desire to do even more,” she says. “This is why we do what we do because when communities come together, we can create real change.”

No matter which hat Stephanie wears each day, her true gift lies in her ability to forge meaningful connections. With her extensive network, including her lifelong Gamma Phi Beta ties, she brings people together in ways that create a lasting impact.

This article was originally published in The Crescent magazine. Thank you to Gamma Phi Beta for providing this article. Visit the Gamma Phi Beta website to learn more about the organization.
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