In honor of Greek Week, UNM’s Greeks organized drives and fundraisers to benefit Albuquerque’s youth — but students don’t have to be Greek to help.
On Monday, Greek Life hosted a clothing drive for the Bernalillo County Council of the Parent Teacher Association Clothing Bank, an organization that provides clothing and other necessary supplies to Albuquerque Public School students.
In honor of UNM’s 123 birthday Greek Life is going to continue collecting clothing Tuesday in the SUB from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Each year, Greeks participate in Greek Week in which fraternities and sororities band together to raise money for charity.
Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity member Cory Montoya said UNM’s Greek organizations hope to raise and donate nearly $25,000, as well as much clothing as possible to the Bernalillo County Council of the PTA Clothing Bank.
Sigma Chi fraternity member Chris Salem said many members of the UNM community often wrongly assume Greek Life is about partying when a major focus is helping the community.
“[Greek Week] is a week for the Greek community to raise money for charity … it shows the community that we can all come together and have fun at sober events; events that are not parties,” Salem said.
Jaimee Perea, the overall chair of Greek Week, said sororities and fraternities researched different charities, but were most passionate about helping the BCCPTA because it helps less fortunate students feel more confident.
“They give the opportunity to over 2,800 APS students yearly to feel comfortable in what they are wearing and fit in with their peers,” she said.
Krista Navarrette, the community service chair for Greek Week, said students who are in need of supplies can only visit BCCPTA twice a year, as the organization has to ration its supplies in order to help as many students as possible. Navarrette said the more donations the organization receives, the more it can help needy students.
At the clothing drive, many sorority and fraternity members were busy sorting through the many donations Lobos brought. Greek Life set up five, six-foot-tall boxes for different items of clothing in order to further help out the organization.
“In the [BCCPTA] building, clothes are just piling up, so we just want to make it as easy as we can for them,” Navarrette said.
Besides donating their time to help facilitate the clothing drive, Lydia Fernandes said she and her fellow sorority sisters went through their clothing to find items to donate themselves.
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The clothing drive is just one of the many community service projects happening during Greek Week. Navarrette said members of Greek Life and non-Greeks alike are encouraged to participate in the remainder of this week’s events.
“Our goal for the clothing drive is to involve the entire UNM campus community. It is a great opportunity to reach out to the future Lobos and truly make an impact,” Navarrette said.
Although any donations help, the Greek Week committee said items such as jeans, jackets, suits, and prom dresses are among the most needed.
Other sponsored events this week include “dine for donation” night, during which Buffalo Wild Wings will donate a percentage of the bills of students presenting a “Greek Week” coupon, and “Greek Sing,” a musical variety performance which took place Monday.
Greek Week also features “The Dating Doctor” on Thursday. The event features a dating advice speaker and is free to all students.
BCCPTA is always taking donations. To donate clothing and supplies, contact the BCCPTA via phone: 505-344-7481 or online: bccpta.org
“Greek Week” itinerary
Tuesday – Dine for Donation, Buffalo Wild Wings, begins at 6 p.m.
Thursday – “The Dating Doctor” David Coleman, SUB at 8 p.m.
