Make a Difference Day, hosted by Marquette University’s Sorority and Fraternity Life and The Center for Community Service, led student volunteers in service Saturday morning around communities in Milwaukee.

Kelly Walker, university director of community service, said the event consisted primarily of helping older adults in the greater Milwaukee community prepare their homes for winter by encouraging student volunteers to help with household chores and tasks.

“Volunteers were placed into groups to cover different houses, so this was a great way for students to meet people while engaging in community service,” Walker said.

Members of Marquette University’s sorority and fraternity life volunteered at the event amongst other students who were able to attend.

Ana Corona Betancourt, a senior in the College of Communication and president of Alpha Chi Omega Theta Omega chapter, said Greek Life encouraged members to participate for service hours. The different service groups were divided amongst all volunteers, Greek affiliated or not.

“Though all my sisters were split up for Make a Difference Day, we were happy to simply volunteer our time to help the greater Milwaukee community prepare their homes for the winter,” Corona Betancourt said. “My group went to a house who had the sweetest elderly lady and we helped her clean snow off her backyard and do other lawn work.”

Eddy Magnus, director of volunteer services at Interfaith Older Adult Programs, said this was the first year it snowed during Make a Difference Day.

“It warms my heart to see over 350 Marquette students come out despite the cold weather and spend their time helping these elderly people,” Magnus said. “Some of the elderly still want to do as much work as they can themselves but the extra hands always help.”

Katie O’Leary, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said she was unsure about what their volunteering tasks would be because of the weather. “It was freezing and I wasn’t sure exactly we were going to do at first, but seeing how happy some of the elderly people were once I got there made it worth while.”

The different volunteer groups ended the day by meeting back at the Alumni Memorial Union for some snacks and reflection of their morning at the different service sites.