Daughters of Penelope, Thoas Chapter 198

07/29/2026

💙💛 We are incredibly proud of our own Sister Tina Smith, who is representing our chapter at the 104th AHEPA Supreme Convention in the historic city of Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy and a city whose spirit of service and civic leadership continues to inspire.

Sister Tina has long been a passionate advocate for Interval House, Connecticut’s largest agency dedicated to ending domestic violence. Interval House provides emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, legal advocacy, prevention education, and life-changing support to thousands of survivors and their families each year.

Thanks to Tina’s vision and dedication, our chapter adopted Interval House as one of our local philanthropies. At this year’s convention, she successfully proposed that Interval House be recognized as a voluntary Daughters of Penelope National Obligation. We are thrilled to share that the proposal was accepted, and attendees were inspired by a powerful presentation from the Interval House representative highlighting the organization’s life-saving mission.

Congratulations, Sister Tina! Your leadership, compassion, and commitment to philanthropy are making a meaningful difference, not only in our community, but now across the Daughters of Penelope nationwide. We couldn’t be prouder! 💙✨

07/22/2026

Last night, 13 of our sisters came together to watch The Odyssey at our local movie theater. This wonderful evening was made possible through the efforts of Sister Maria and Sister Stephanie—one had the idea, and the other brought it to life. You both rock!

After watching the film, we have an even greater appreciation for Penelope, our namesake, who proved herself to be a warrior in her own right.

The evening was made even more special by the thoughtful touches from our sisters. Sister Stephanie brought a huge bag of candy for everyone to enjoy, and Sister Anna surprised each attendee with a beautiful pouch featuring our chapter logo on one side and each sister's name on the other.

Our founder, Alexandra Apostolides, would be so proud to see the love, friendship, and sisterhood that continue to flourish within our chapter. Moments like these remind us how fortunate we are to be part of such a caring and supportive sisterhood.

07/22/2026

This past Saturday, we joined our sisters of Eretria Chapter #138 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Britain, Connecticut, for a heartwarming morning of service during an Open Jam Event.

Together, we assembled more than 2,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Everyone contributed by bringing supplies, preparing the sandwiches, and helping ensure they were delivered directly to those in need.

This effort was part of the Feed the Need NE Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the Northeast.

Seeing the incredible work our sisters in New Britain are doing with this organization was truly inspiring. Their dedication to serving others has encouraged us to explore partnering with this wonderful initiative and bringing this meaningful project to our own chapter.

07/04/2026

06/28/2026

Sister Aglaia “Nitsa” Tsipouras personifies the Daughters of Penelope ideals and embodies warmth, compassion, and dedication, making her the deserving recipient of this year’s DOP Thoas Chapter 198 Penelope of the Year. Nitsa's welcoming nature is a treasure, effortlessly drawing people in and making them feel part of our community, as she shares her boundless enthusiasm for our mission to serve the organization and beyond. With her remarkable capacity for friendship and connection, she would be the star attraction at any event, spreading joy and inclusivity wherever she goes. Let's celebrate Nitsa's extraordinary friendliness, personability, and passion, as well as her unwavering commitment to our organization's mission. We thank her for her outstanding service and offer warm congratulations on this prestigious award. 🎉❤️

06/24/2026

The Yankee District 7 Fall Conference will be held on Saturday, October 17 at the AHEPA Senior Housing in Norwich.

More information will be shared as we get closer to the event date. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

06/24/2026

The Daughters of Penelope — Eretria #138, New Britain, has invited us to their Summer Open Jam, a fun and meaningful PB&J sandwich-making event benefiting Feed The Need Northeast!

📅 Saturday, July 18, 2026
📍 St. George Community Center
301 West Main St., New Britain, CT
🕙 Registration: 10:00 AM
🥪 Sandwich-Making Begins: 10:30 AM

Join us as we come together to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for those in need while enjoying fellowship and community service. We hope to see you there!

06/22/2026

Today, we had the honor of awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students as they continue their educational journeys. Supporting education is a cornerstone of the Daughters of Penelope mission, and it is a privilege to invest in the future of these talented young people.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported our chapter throughout the year. Your participation in our Bag Bingo, Lambades sales, and Calendar Raffle made these scholarships possible. Through your generosity, you are helping us promote education, philanthropy, and individual excellence within our community.

Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients. We wish you continued success as you pursue your academic goals and dreams!

06/16/2026

What a wonderful weekend at the District 7 Convention and Scholarship Luncheon! 💙💛

We were honored to spend time with PDG sisters and sisters from other chapters. These gatherings are always a great reminder that while our chapters may be spread out, the sisterhood is strong. We enjoyed connecting with sisters from across the district, sharing ideas, and learning from our district board members who somehow manage to be guides, cheerleaders, and problem-solvers all at once!

A special congratulations to our very own Sister Anna Rafti, who was recognized as District 7 Penelope of the Year! We couldn’t be more proud, and anyone who knows Anna knows this honor is incredibly well deserved. Congratulations, Sister Anna! 🌹

The weekend also included district board elections and a wonderful scholarship luncheon, where we were especially proud to see five students from Hartford awarded scholarships.

Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients, and thank you to everyone who helps keep our sisterhood thriving! 💙

06/13/2026

As we look ahead to another exciting year of sisterhood, service, and philanthropy, we are pleased to announce the newly elected officers of Daughters of Penelope Thoas Chapter #198 for the 2026–2027 term:

✨ President: Anna Rafti
✨ Vice President: Simona Trofimov
✨ Treasurer: Litsa Antoniou
✨ Recording Secretary: Erini Orsaris
✨ Corresponding Secretary: Kal Astras

We are especially excited to welcome new sisters to our Board and look forward to their fresh ideas, energy, and perspectives they will bring to our chapter.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our outgoing officers for their dedication, hard work, and faithful service. Your leadership has helped strengthen our chapter and advance our mission of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, and civic responsibility.

Congratulations to our newly elected officers! We look forward to your leadership and the exciting opportunities ahead as we continue to grow, serve our community, and support one another in the year to come.

💙 Wishing our newly elected Board a successful and rewarding term!