WMU Greek Life makes history with Bronco Food Pantry donation

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University Greek Life organizations made Montgomery Essential Needs history in April by making the largest ever single donation to the Bronco Food Pantry as part of their annual Greek Week event. On behalf of the College Panhellenic Council (CPC), Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc, 12 fraternities and seven sororities donated more than 12,000 items weighing a total of 4,043 pounds to ensure WMU students are fed this summer. 

Philanthropy is a core component of Greek Week, a student-led initiative which encourages relationship-building and community engagement. According to Eva Hughes, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, the campus Greek community chooses one community organization and one campus organization to donate to each spring. Fraternities and sororities then pair up to form teams and compete with one another in a series of fun events to meet their chosen philanthropic goals. 

This year, WMU fraternities and sororities voted to raise money for Special Days Camps, a summer camp that provides a traditional camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings. Together they raised $20,989 for the organization, an amount Special Days representatives shared will allow 21 children to attend camp this summer. For their campus-focused efforts, students looked to support students in need by organizing a food drive for the Bronco Food Pantry. 

“I just think it's a great event to do,” says Matt Divito, IFC president. “(The food pantry) helps out our whole student body, and we want to take care of everybody that we can.” 

“Our Greek student leaders loved the idea of supporting their fellow students in need,” elaborates Hughes. “Teams collected goods on their own, the student leaders counted them at week's end and we worked to organize a drop-off time with the pantry that following week.” 

The collective weeklong efforts by the Greek organizations not only helped build community across chapters and empower students to make a positive impact in their communities but also encouraged student leaders to develop their leadership skills.  

“Even though in Greek life we do a lot together, it’s nice to be able to have one big event where every council can come together and be included," says Maddie Taylor, council president for the CPC. “It’s tough to plan something like this, but I think it was executed very well, and I think everyone had a great time. I had a great time helping out.”  

Donielle Easlick, Montgomery Essential Needs program manager, notes that, although being greeted by 6-foot-tall towers of ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, pasta sauce and canned goods in the food pantry wasn’t exactly on her Bingo card, it is an amazing sight to behold. 

“It's a little funny and a lot amazing!” she says. “Every student who walks into the pantry to shop is shocked. Some laugh, and all of them have been extremely grateful for the extra food we are able to provide right now. WMU Greeks truly showed up for their fellow Broncos with this donation drive. A donation this size is really going to help us stretch our food purchasing budget and keep the pantry shelves stocked throughout the summer.” 

For Hughes, this record-breaking donation affirms the collective power of the Fraternity & Sorority Life community at WMU and the good work that can be achieved when students work together towards a common goal. 

“As we were unloading the cars and loading the thousands of pounds of goods into the pantry, I could see the students realizing the impact they were making. For some students, they may have never needed to visit the pantry or maybe they did not know that it existed, but this donation effort raised awareness of the pantry and its services, as well as the impact that the donations will make in the lives of fellow students," she says.  

“It is truly heartwarming to know that this donation will support the pantry through the summer," Hughes continues. "Students deserve to have their needs met so they may focus on their education, and I am confident that this donation will play a part in student success for months to come.” 

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.