Giving is in the air as the ISU greek community gears up for an eventful winter holiday season.

“The greek community is looking forward to helping families and children during the holiday season through fund raisers and events within chapters,” said Piper Anderson, director of special projects for the Panhellenic Council.

Both sorority and fraternity members are pitching in to help out over the holidays.

“The Interfraternity Council is putting on an event called Hams for the Holidays,” said Chris Hall, vice president of operations for IFC.

IFC will serve ham, corn, rolls and pie to 10 families around Ames for the event, he said.

Kappa Delta, 2102 Sunset Drive, will celebrate the holidays with Girl Scouts, with whom the sorority does philanthropy work, said Jane Legg, senior in apparel merchandising, design and production.

“One of our national philanthropies are the Girl Scouts, and we make gift bags with them to give to nursing homes,” Legg said.

The Kappa Delta members also decorate the first floor of their house with lights and decorations and have a celebration with all of its members, she said.

“We have a celebration and the big sisters and little sisters in our house can exchange gifts with one another,” Legg said.

Alpha Gamma Delta, 2118 Sunset Drive, is working to raise money for Christmas presents to be given to the children at Orchard Place in Des Moines, said Meagan Harms, philanthropy chairwoman.

“We are holding a party at our house on Dec. 9 for Iowa State students,” said Harms, sophomore in journalism and mass communication.

Students can bring a gift or pay to come to the party, and the gifts and money will be used for the children in Des Moines, Harms said. Since Alpha Gamma Delta has no local philanthropy, it thought this would be a nice way to give back to the community, she said.

“We plan to take the presents after the party and one of the girls is going to dress up as Santa Claus,” Harms said.

“We will have food, beverages and Christmas music for the kids.”