Service with a smile – that’s the philosophy on which Sigma Lambda Sigma bases its organization.

The service sorority requires each member to do at least 35 hours of community service each semester.

Senior English major Ashley Pearson is the vice president of Sigma Lambda Sigma and has been an active member for two years.

“I like this sorority because it gives girls the chance to meet someone else who enjoys helping the community,” Pearson said. “It also helps us meet people in the community who we normally won’t get to know.”

Throughout the week, Sigma Lambda Sigma offers service projects; members sign up for events and volunteer their time. Painting nails, playing games and planning dances are projects the girls participate in at local nursing homes such as Barb City Manor, Oak Crest and the DeKalb County nursing home.

“This is a very different kind of sorority,” Pearson said. “We are all different kinds of girls in the same house, but we share a very common goal of helping people.”

Darnell Bradley has been the program coordinator for University Program and Activities for the last two years. He said Greek organizations put in more service hours than any other campus organization.

“A large part of why Greek organizations were created, aside from scholarships, is to provide service to the community,” Bradley said. “They are expected to act and perform at a higher standard because of their ideals of their organization.”

An activity that Sigma Lambda Sigma has participated in for the community is to become homeless for a night outside of Wal-Mart, 2300 Sycamore Road. Community members were able to collect food and money that later was donated to a local shelter.

Junior nursing major Gina Malfeo said she believes in the work of her organization.

“I am involved with this service sorority because I like to do community service,” Malfeo said. “It helps organize my hours rather than me going out on my own. It gives me the opportunity to work with people who also like helping people and who have the same interests as me.”