Brothers Feeding Others
by John Holloway • December 2006 • 4 Comments •
Since 1993, Lambda Chi Alpha has been coordinating an international philanthropy project that has now raised more than 28 million pounds of food for the needy across North America.
What’s 2.5 Million Pounds?
Using cans of Campbell’s Chunky Grilled Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, the total pounds of food Lambda Chi Alpha collected would:
- soar 712,457 feet tall if stacked end to end, roughly 35 times higher than the highest point in North America (Mt. McKinley - 20,230 feet).
- feed one whale for 977 days (a Right Whale eats an average of 2,625 pounds per day).
- fill about 288,443 empty stomachs (a human stomach can hold about 3.4 liters of food).
- treat the whole county of Worchester, Massachusetts, to an all-you-can-eat buffet…twice.
- overflow an Olympic-sized pool.
- equal 478,771,160 calories.
- let Mrs. McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles Donovan McNabb’s mom) feed her 11 hungry football players for 72 years.
Called the Lambda Chi Alpha North American Food Drive, this annual event is arguably the largest single-day philanthropic project sponsored by a collegiate organization.
This year, Lambda Chi Alpha collected almost 2,564,846 pounds of food with approximately 100 chapters and colonies participating.
In 2005, the Fraternity collected more than 2.5 million pounds, which was the most food ever collected in a given year.
Food collected by chapters directly supports the hungry and needy within their local community. Participating chapters typically gather money or canned food and donate all proceeds to a local food bank, shelter, or charity.
For some shelters, Lambda Chi Alpha’s food drive is the single-largest source of charity they receive and rely on our chapters every year.
Each can of food collected not only feeds someone in need but also raises the awareness that helping those in need is a cornerstone of what Lambda Chi Alpha is committed to doing.
“Brothers Feeding Others” is more than a slogan. It is the embodiment of the true principles upon which our Fraternity is founded.
Comments from members
No more clearly are our principles exemplified than in the comments and stories of our members who took part in this year’s North American Food Drive.
Zach Lee (Alabama 2009)
“We are so proud that this marks our first year of participation in this great event.” (8,500 Pounds)
Wylie Bindeman (East Carolina)
“This is just a start for our chapter, but we are making great strides and plan to continue making and achieving our goals.” (130 Pounds)
Ryan Stewart (Eastern Kentucky)
“Huge improvement from last year’s total and we are excited to report our totals for this year!” (24,100 Pounds)
Brian Meunier (Evansville 2008)
“Although we did not collect as much as last year, it’s still a tremendous amount of food and it’s still great to bring that to the Ozanam Family Shelter.” (5,800 Pounds)
Allen Schuhmann (Kentucky 2008)
“We had a blast raising canned goods for the NAFD. We gave our canned goods to God’s Pantry Food Bank.” (1,645 Pounds)
B.J. Alexander (North Texas 2007)
“We held a date auction benefiting the North American Food Drive. The event raised more than $3,000. Chapter members also donated cans throughout the spring and fall semesters.” (6,500 Pounds)
Brian Ludlow (Western Ontario 2007)
“Very successful food drive, canvassed five residential routes consisting of approximately 3,650 homes. We also obtained local corporate sponsorship from grocery stores and restaurants. We donated all collected food and monetary donations to London Food Bank.” (11,000 Pounds)
Making a Difference
Cumulative Results
The time and energy put into the food drive is returned exponentially in the happiness and joy that our efforts bring to the community.
Lambda Chi Alpha is able to give to those less fortunate through a simple act that provides people immediate strength to approach the day, hope that tomorrow is going to be better than today, and faith in the idea that people do care about others and are willing and able to lend a hand.
Thankfully, hope abounds when our members are willing to give of themselves to support those with needs in their local communities.
To view how well your chapter participated, visit the Lambda Chi Alpha website.
Top 10 Chapters Reported
- High Point (395,305 pounds)
- Kansas State (250,000 pounds)
- Truman State (220,400 pounds)
- Missouri - Columbia (131,110 pounds)
- Butler (123,616 pounds)
- Nebraska - Omaha (112,629 pounds)
- Mississippi State 112,500 pounds)
- Kutztown (101,760 pounds)
- Central Florida (95,250 pounds)
- Louisiana - Lafayette (80,000 pounds)
Photo Credits in Order of Apperance
- © Lambda Chi Alpha, Some rights reserved.
- © Courtesy basak, Some rights reserved.
- © Courtesy James Calder, Some rights reserved.
Stephen Appeldorn Says:
December 2nd, 2006 at 6:49 pmAlways makes me proud to see the brothers doing such a fantastic job with the Food Drive. Well done guys!!!
Steve Appeldorn
Phi-Mu 2
Thomas Tsareff Says:
December 2nd, 2006 at 9:23 pmLambda Chi can hold their heads high with this type of activity. Although there are numerous organizations (churches etc)holding periodic food drives, the amount collected by Lambda Chi is truly superb. Bravo Zulu!
Tom Earp Says:
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:06 pmOnce again, The Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha do themselves proud.
My congratulations to my Brothers for once again showing what fine men we have.
Working to help the less fortuniate.
Tom Earp
LX Z # 1
Pittsburg State University, Kansas.
Will Bowlin Says:
December 10th, 2006 at 10:12 pmGood to see Mississippi State at #7. Maybe yall can show our football team how to be competative. Keep up the good work guys.
Will Bowlin
EX1003