After a decade away from campus, the ISU Acacia fraternity is taking on Seven Days of Service to help people, organizations and businesses in the Ames area.

The International Acacia Chapter has participated in Seven Days of Service for many years, said Keenan Baker, philanthropy chairman for Acacia, 138 Gray Ave.

The ISU chapter got its charter back this year, bringing back the tradition to Central Iowa.

There are 24 members in the fraternity who are participating this year, said Dan Kline, Acacia president.

“It is not required to participate every day, but I would say everyone will have participated for at least five of the days,” said Kline, junior in electrical engineering.

Members helped the Ames Police Department Tuesday night assisting trick-or-treaters, Kline said, making sure the kids had a safe night.

Wednesday, members delivered food to an Ames homeless shelter.

Thursday, they went to help a community-service organization in Des Moines.

Tonight, the fraternity will go to Riverside Manor Retirement Home, 1204 S. 4 St., to help with bingo.

Saturday, members will rake leaves for elderly residents, and on Sunday, members will be at the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee from noon to 5 p.m. to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Kline said.

The fraternity will team up with the Ames Animal Shelter Monday to educate potential customers, particularly college students, about the responsibilities of owning a pet, Kline said. This particular project will be spread over a couple weeks.

“Our goal is to give back to the community and do different activities,” said Baker, senior in management information systems.

“This benefits the community and goes more in-depth then just raising money and give to one organization. I think we are already seeing benefits. People are really happy we are coming out.”

The group talked about different activities they could do for the week, and Baker said some of the activities are special to some of the members. The fraternity then contacted different organizations and set up activities, he said.

Baker said he hopes people see what the fraternity has been doing for the community and will appreciate its work.

“I would like the community to see what we are doing and hope people will be happy we are helping out,” he said.

“Being there and helping the community is what it’s all about.”