The UF Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council have joined forces this week to sponsor their annual used clothing drive in an effort to give back to the Gainesville community.
The drive began Monday and ends today. The 26 fraternities and 16 sororities were given a box at the start of the week and encouraged to donate as many items of gently used clothing as possible.
As a way to ignite some friendly competition, the fraternity and sorority that donate the most items will receive a gift card to a local Gainesville restaurant for a chapter dinner, said IFC Director of Service Trey Clarke.
“This event shows that Greeks really do a lot of positive things for the community,” said Clarke, a third-year accounting major. “This is a great way for us to give back, and we’re looking to make a difference in Gainesville and the community at large.”
The clothing drive will benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida in Gainesville, which aims to provide neglected, abandoned and abused children with a number of social services, including housing, clothing and food. IFC President Rajiv Asnani said all of the clothing collected will be tallied on Saturday and taken to the organization sometime early next week.
This is the Greek community’s third year hosting this event.
Asnani said that last year’s drive brought in nearly 2,000 clothing items, and the councils are hoping to bring in at least the same amount this year.
Kelsey Roderick, a second-year advertising major and member of Sigma Kappa sorority, donated T-shirts, sweaters and a sweatshirt to the drive.
“I have a ton of clothes that I’ve been meaning to get rid of,” Roderick said. “And this is giving them toward a great cause.”
