Greek Life students and the chapter pairings between the fraternities and sororities at SEMO, carried bags full of clothing items into the University Center for the Greek Week Clothing Drive. In the Terrace Room, several Greek Week executives and Steering Committee members, a committee made to plan and promote the events of Greek Week, sorted through the mass amounts of clothing that had been collected for weeks. The clothes collected were all donated to the Women’s Shelter of Cape Girardeau, and the Teen Challenge Thrift Store.

Sophomore social studies education major Frankie Kulavic is the philanthropy chair for this year's Greek Week. Kulavic orchestrated the clothing drive and other service projects throughout the week. He stressed the importance of these projects and what they mean to the community.

“It’s one week out of many that we help the local communities; we want to be able to give back to it,” Kulavic said.

The clothing drive ran on Thursday, April 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and had designated time slots for the Greek pairings to drop off their collections of clothes. Each year, the executive team for Greek Week sets a goal for the amount of donations they would like to receive. The goal for this year was 4,000 articles of clothing, with each pairing donating 600 articles of clothing.

Clothes collected by Greek Life sit on tables to be sorted for the Greek Week clothing drive. The clothing drive ran on Thursday, April 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and had designated time slots for the Greek pairings to drop off their collections of clothes.Photo by Arielle Adams

Senior communication disorders major Gillian Sherp is part of the executive committee for Greek Week this year. She said they have not had a problem reaching these goals.

“I think that they actually get excited to donate and give back to the community,” Sherp said “I've seen people need these clothes, and I've seen them at the thrift store. It’s nice to see we are making a difference.”

Director of Campus Life and Event Services Michelle Irby has experienced Greek Week in her current and past positions at the university, as well as when she attended SEMO herself. She said doing service events like this one is part of the mission of Greek Life.

“If they are going to have a week where they highlight what's the best of being part of a Greek community, philanthropy is part of that,” Irby said.

Two members of Greek Life work to bag clothes donated during the Greek Week clothing drive.Photo by Arielle Adams

Two members of Greek Life work to bag clothes donated during the Greek Week clothing drive.Photo by Arielle Adams