Greeks Give: Thousands of Items Donated to Fayetteville Food Pantries

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Members of National Panhellenic Council Exec, Interfraternity Council Exec and New Greek Council pose with Monique Jones, Squire Jehegan Outreach Center director of outreach and community engagement.

Arkansas Greek Life hosted its annual Greeks Give Back Day on Monday, March 11.

Each year, fraternity and sorority communities select organizations to support through this day of service.

For the past month, Greek Life members have been planning, communicating and collecting donation items to support this year's recipients: the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry and the Squire Jehegan Outreach Center Food Pantry, which is part of St. James Missionary Baptist Church here in Fayetteville.

"I wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your role in organizing the Greeks Give Back Day on March 11, 2024. Your dedication and efforts have made a significant impact, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to participate," said Monique Jones, director of outreach and community engagement, Squire Jehegan Outreach Center.

Junior Beta Theta Pi member and Interfraternity Council VP of Recruitment, Nathan Alvey helps stock the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry for Greeks Give Back Day

Students from New Greek Council, a committee of members in their first year of Greek Life, led this year's initiative with the help of upperclassmen leadership. Executive leaders from Interfraternity Council, United Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Panhellenic Council all worked together to make the day a resounding success.

Interfraternity Council President Alex Davis said, "I am extremely honored to serve as the council president of a collection of 13 chapters so dedicated to giving back to our community. It is inspiring to see how much our Greek community strives to help those in need in NWA and beyond!"

Greek Life donated a total of 12,781 items to the Full Circle Food Pantry and Squire Jehegan Outreach Center. The chapter organizations who donated the most items will be honored at Order of Omega awards late this spring.

"It brings great joy to participate and volunteer at such an impactful event. Witnessing the food pantry filling up within the first hour was incredibly gratifying. United Greek Council sees this day as an opportunity to give back to the community that has generously supported us. Our chapters spared no effort in contributing whatever they could. We remain committed to paying it forward, not only on this day but every day," said Alexa Gaucin, United Greek Council president.

Annually, the U of A Greek Life donates $750,000 to various charities, including service hours that impact the local community and beyond. The Charlie and Cappy Whiteside Greek Life Leadership Center serves 35 national fraternities and sororities with more than 9,200 Greek members.

Members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc and Phi Beta Sigman Fraternity, Inc. supporting the Jane B. Gearhart Food Pantry mission of nourishing bodies, empowering minds, and creating a community of passion.