Theta Nu Alpha, a Pacific University sorority, went above and beyond their philanthropy. Recently, the sorority has been recognized by members of the Forest Grove community for cleaning and sprucing up the dog park at Thatcher Park.
“We renew our adoption of Thatcher Park every year because it is something we all want to keep doing,” sorority president Joleen Boyd said.
According to Boyd, Theta Nu Alpha adopted Thatcher Park back in 2012 as apart of the city’s Adopt-a-Park program.
“It is something we want to keep doing and we love seeing other people benefit from our community service,” Community Service and Fundraising Chair Alex Chambers said. “While our community service at Thatcher Park does not fit into our philanthropy, this has always been a solid way for us to give back to the community.”
Theta Nu Alpha does community service at the park bi-monthly and each sorority member is required to go to the park at least once a month to do trail maintenance, weeding, cleaning, spreading wood chips on the ground in the dog park or to work on specific projects.
Two weeks ago, the ladies spread wood chips in the dog park. “There is a lot of community involvement at Thatcher Park,” said Chambers. “A lot of the dog owners were thanking us for maintaining the dog park and it was a humbling experience for all of us.”
On Sunday, Oct. 25, some of the sorority members went to Thatcher Park and did as much cleaning up as they could despite the rain.
As a sorority and through the Adopt-a-Park program, the ladies come up with ideas in relation to what Thatcher Park might need.
“For our next project, we want to paint a dog course in the dog park,” Chambers said.
While the ladies do a lot of cleaning and sprucing up in the park, they also hold events.
Since greek life was not able to have rush this year, Theta Nu Alpha held a pumpkin-carving event for those who were interested in becoming potential pledges.
According to Boyd, they held an alumnae picnic earlier in the school year and hold other picnic events as well.
“Our community service is like a pebble in the pond,” Chambers said. “Through our services, we cause that first ripple effect. We want students to know they can be that first ripple effect as well. We can make a difference in our community.”
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