Alpha Phi Omega is working to make the holiday season a little easier for some central Iowa citizens.

The coed service fraternity is serving meals this week at Our Community’s Kitchen in downtown Des Moines said Eric Strasser, service chair of the organization.

“Basically, [the kitchen] is giving people who really need help a solid meal a day Monday through Friday,” said Herb Strasser, Alpha Phi Omega adviser.

He said the kitchen serves 50 to 80 people a night and operates from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Strasser said there are no kitchens in Ames that have an actual serve line, although Meals on Wheels agencies are available.

The kitchen is run by a church and operates solely on volunteer labor, he said.

“They were very pleased to hear we were looking for a project,” Strasser said.

“They take outside volunteer groups of four to six people anytime they can get them,” he said.

The pledge class of Alpha Phi Omega is also making kits to be distributed at the soup kitchen.

Eric Strasser said the boxes contain toothbrushes, soap and other items people may not be able to afford.

“We want to help them out a little bit on things they need,” Strasser said.

“This is the kind of stuff we take for granted.”

Alpha Phi Omega does not have a house and is dedicated to service, Strasser said.

“All we do is go and find things that we can help other people out with,” he said.

The group has 14 pledges and 23 active members.

Strasser said Alpha Phi Omega also plans to visit a retirement home closer to Christmas.

“We want to talk with them and give them something to do, maybe sing carols,” he said.