March 18 , 2007 - This week is dedicated to community service within the Greek community.

I feel many times, the college community gets so caught up in the idea of partying, recruitment parties, and Greek Week, that they don’t see the amount of time and work each chapter on this campus dedicates to community service, a core aspect of all WVWC programs.

Each chapter has a national philanthropy, as week as a local philanthropy they support.

Zeta Tau Alpha has the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation, whose work is dedicated entirely to breast cancer education and research.

Alpha Sigma Phi works with Upshur County Head Start.

The Kappa Alpha Order supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

...And the list goes on.

Even within the Greek Community, there is an All-Greek philanthropy: the American Heart Association, as well as several all Greek philanthropy activities such as donating presents for Upshur County HeadStart or the HeartWalk.

Grand total, the Greek Community of WVWC contributed over 4,000 hours of community service each year.

Recently several projects have been going on such as the work of Alpha Xi Delta.

In the month of February, Alpha Xi Delta whose philanthropy is Choose Children participated two project that made a difference.

The first was A Polar Bear Plunge. The funds raised by the sisters to participate went to the WV Special Olympic Fund.

Also, during Spring Recruitment, the sisters and prospective new members made Tooth Bearies, small bear shaped pins with a pocket for a tooth. There bears were donated to Academy Elementary School for students to use as a safe place for the missing teeth until they get home.

The work being done is amazing and many times, we as a community must step back to appreciate all of the concern and effort put into it.

Ashley Hodak