Creighton Clean Up is not a day to clean Creighton’s campus, but to serve the Omaha community surrounding the university. Organized by Inter Residence Hall Government, with the help of the Intrafraternity and Panhellenic Council, this day of service is also a fundraiser that benefits the community partners of the residence halls. Together over 400 participants helped clean multiple organizations in Omaha last Saturday.

From mulching, cleaning, sorting and talking to members of the Charles E. Lakin Community to working with bikes and learning about new organizations in the Omaha area, Creighton Clean Up 2012 was a success.

Arts & Sciences sophomore Veronica Urbik thinks Creighton Clean Up is an incredible experience and decided to become involved in the planning process this year.

“Creighton Clean Up is a time when you can see your fellow students making a big difference for people in need right in our own backyard,” Urbik said. “Community partners are so appreciative of our help, and the event really strengthens Creighton’s relationships with these organizations.”

Urbik said she personally learned about several organizations she was not familiar with and was amazed with the huge difference she saw for so many organizations in Omaha after just a few hours of service from so many people.

For the first time, Creighton Clean Up had all of the Greek organizations working together at one site.

“It was amazing to see all the different Greek organizations working together toward a common goal,” Morgan Ostertag, Arts & Sciences sophomore and president-elect of the panhellenic council said. “This collaboration builds stronger bonds between participants representing different organizations, as well as stronger bonds between Creighton students and the outside communities.”

Creighton Clean Up is a time to give back to the community along with reflecting on your own life. Ostertag reiterated, “The vast amount of, not only Greek participants, but Creighton students participating in the event reminded me of Creighton’s dedication to service and what it means to be ‘men and women for and with others’.”