Fraternity donates $5,000 to food bank

By Jewels Phraner

Published Dec. 8, 2006

Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity presented the Central Missouri Food Bank with a $5,000 check Thursday morning.

Lambda Chi Alpha raised the funds for the donation through its annual philanthropy "Watermelon Fest," former chapter President Matt Zellner said.

The food drive runs in conjunction with Lambda Chi Alpha's national North American Food Drive during Greek Week.

"We have been blessed over the years to be a recipient of the funds raised during Greek Week," said Peggy Kirkpatrick, Central Missouri Food Bank executive director. "But to have an individual fraternity or sorority gift us with a donation this large is unusual."

The fraternity usually donates the money raised from its philanthropy to several different organizations and then gives all the food donated in the annual food drive to the food bank. But Lambda Chi Alpha Treasurer Bryan VanGronigen said the fraternity didn't hold its traditional food drive because of weather and scheduling conflicts.

When Lambda Chi Alpha members heard that Missouri food banks were not getting enough donations this year, they decided to donate most of the money raised to the Central Missouri Food Bank.

"Especially with the holiday season approaching, we felt like we could be a great help to their cause," Zellner said. "We don't want anyone to go hungry over the holidays."

The money will be used to distribute 100,000 pounds of food.

The Central Missouri Food Bank helps people in 33 counties in central and northeast Missouri.

It feeds an average of 80,000 people a month.

Lambda Chi Alpha raised enough money to buy 130,000 pounds of food.

Although the fraternity is donating a majority of the money to the Central Missouri Food Bank, Zellner said it will donate the remaining 30,000 pounds to various beneficiaries, including the Salvation Army.