Members of UNM's Greek community volunteered at Carrie Tingley Hospital Saturday in what has become one fraternity's annual event aimed at helping the UNM community.
The second annual Greek Day of Service, sponsored by the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, was founded to give Greeks an opportunity to work together on a major community service project.
All four of UNM's sororities participated in the annual event.
The group of students painted rooms, cleaned storage sheds, assisted with computer work and helped maintain grounds, including the hospital's recently installed playground.
"The hospital does not get that many volunteers, so on this day they have a whole year's worth of things for us to do," said Niraj Patel, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. "We help them address their billing envelopes and create posters for the rooms, but most importantly we keep the children company in their time of need."
Patel said that being a member of a fraternity or sorority brings with it the responsibility of helping the community in any way you can, and that his fraternity has plans to continue participating in the annual project.
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"Not only does this provide us with a sense of accomplishment, but we like to think that we've made a difference in these children's lives," Patel said.
Carrie Tingley Hospital has, in recent years, become the pre-eminent health care center for children suffering a variety of conditions, hospital officials said. It provides coordinated healthcare services for children and adolescents who require long-term medical and therapeutic care.
"We look forward to this day," said Breanna Wayne, a Chi Omega sorority member. "We all want to donate our time and efforts to help out the kids as much as we can."
The volunteer effort was not only appreciated by the hospital's staff, but also by some of its patients.
"My nephew has been looking forward to this day all week," said Patrick Padilla, who was at the hospital. "He couldn't wait for the day when these people would bring games for him to play and would make him laugh."
The hospital is also known for its care in the fields of orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation of patients with prosthetics/orthotics, and new programs for head injuries and cerebral palsy.
"It is important to do things for the community," said Ginger Williamson, member of the Chi Omega sorority. "But because what we are doing here benefits the children in the hospital, it has an added importance, and when you see one of the patients smile at you, you realize how significant what you are doing is."
Although Pi Kappa Alpha is the event's sponsor, it was the only fraternity volunteering at the hospital Saturday.
Patel said he does not know why his was the only UNM fraternity to participate in the project.
"We invite all the other fraternities to join us, and the most response we've received is last year when we had two members of another fraternity willing to donate their time," he said.
