U greeks continued a 20-year tradition when they threw a Halloween party for about 200 underprivileged children at the Neighborhood House last night.
The Neighborhood House, which provides day care and support services for parents with low incomes, has a long-standing relationship with the U’s greek community.
“Everyone who goes really enjoys it,” said Lauren Christensen, a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and president of the Panhellenic Council. “It’s a good event, and a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
The greeks dressed in costumes, provided a haunted house, painted children’s faces and organized a game room for activities such as pin-the-tail on the cat, cookie decorating and pumpkin painting.
The children and community involved with the Neighborhood House look forward to it as well, said Liz Montoya, education coordinator of children’s programs at the Neighborhood House.
“The kids look forward to this every year,” Montoya said. “They start asking about it (and) talking about the spook alley. (The community) looks forward and asks about it too. They are exposed to people in college (like) the greeks (and) it provides that one-on-one, big-brother interaction that they might not have otherwise.”
Each fraternity and sorority funded and organized one of the events.
Last year the greeks held the event for about 50 kids. This year the number quadrupled to about 200, said Collin Barber, a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Interfraternity Council.
Interfraternity Council President Chase Winsor arranged the event with the Neighborhood House, and both councils held a meeting with the president of each sorority and fraternity to assign activities.
“Many of our members are involved with student government and activities on campus, so this is a great opportunity to get involved with the community off of campus,” Barber said.
Abby Henriod, president of Delta Gamma, said the Neighborhood House event is good for both Greek Row and the children it is serving.
“We all do this together,” Henriod said. “It is an effort to unite the greeks and provide service.”
Lucas IsleyU Greeks hosted a Halloween party for children at the Neighborhood House Thursday night witch featured a spook alley, cookie decorating, face and pumpkin painting. This was the 20th year that the Greeks have hosted the Halloween party.