Sorority members sponsor clothing drive competition

The Alpha Delta Pi Sorority is fighting the "War for Warmth" by holding its third annual clothing drive.

Clothing donated during the drive - a contest between Greek fraternities and sororities on campus - will be given to the St. Joseph Mercy Neighborhood Health Clinic.

The clinic distributes clothing and provides inexpensive health care to needy families in Washtenaw County.

The clothing drive was started two years ago by an Alpha Delta Pi philanthropy chair.

"The main reason the drive was started is because it gets the whole community involved," said current Alpha Delta Pi Philanthropy Chair Katie Hamilton, an LSA junior. "Also, it's a worthwhile project, not just a philanthropy project."

The first year was a competition between the University and Michigan State University. More than 4,000 articles of clothing were collected during the inaugural year.

This year, the drive is a competition between campus fraternities and sororities because MSU decided to forego participation in the drive. The winner, the house that collects the most clothing per member ratio, will receive a pizza party sponsored by Pizza House.

Shurgood Storage has also aided the drive by providing discounted storage for the clothing before being donated.

Students and community members can donate clean, wearable clothing at participating sororities, fraternities, co-operative living houses or at the Hillel's campus office.

Because of increased interest in the drive, several co-ops, Hillel and the Black Greek Association have been invited to participate in the drive this year.

"We have a small box here with some clothes in it." said Luther Co-op Member Ken Thompson, an LSA sophomore. "We're not part of the competition, but we're participating anyhow."

"We hope to collect at least 2,000 articles of clothing this year," said Hamilton. "So far, we have 900 to 1,000 articles."

The drive - which kicked-off in October - will continue through the end of this week. The clothing will be donated thereafter and the winning organization will be announced on Nov. 7.

The Neighborhood Health Clinic was chosen as the benefiting organization for the drive. In the past, the drive has donated clothing to Purple Heart, but organizers said they were unable to reach the group in May when organization for the drive began.

"This is a terrific project because all the clothes go to needy families," said Alpha Delta Pi Public Relations Chair Andrea Pisani, an LSA junior. "It's not like it's money. We know that people that need the clothes will get them and it will benefit everyone."

11-01-99