Lambda Chi Alpha partnered with the Corner Club to help raise money and food for the St. Mary’s food bank in Moscow.
The chapter collected money and canned food at their house and held a small event at the Corner Club earlier in April. On April 5, the Corner Club offered half-price beer for donating two cans of food. The bar also held a silent auction with some surprisingly valuable items. All proceeds from the food drive and silent auction went to St. Mary’s food bank, the largest food bank in Moscow.
The food drive was the most successful philanthropy event ever held by Lambda Chi with over $5,000 donated in cash and food. Lambda Chi ended up surpassing their fundraising goal before any of the events started.
Head of philanthropy for Lambda Chi, Dylan Solly, explained that Lambda Chi is proud of how successful the event was in raising money for the community.:
“This has been a very large time commitment, and I’m happy how it turned out,” Solly said. “There has been amazing community outreach, and the people of Moscow are very generous. I am very thankful for that.”
To kick off the Corner Club event, Lambda Chi held a dance-off at their house. Sorority chapters joined the dance-off with judges UI Football Coach Jason Eck, Bill Kerr of the Moscow Food Bank and Rachel Goldschmid of Lambda Chi. Gamma Phi Beta won first place, Kappa Kappa Gamma took second place and Tri Delt won third.
The silent auction at the Corner Club event had some valuable items donated by the VandalStore. Two featured items were basketballs. One was signed by the entire UI basketball team from 2008, and the other was signed by the 2019 UI team. There was also a football signed by former NFL player and UI alum Jerry Cramer that sold for $1,100. Other items included a Best Western hotel package, a Vandal Football package and a Vandal Golf package.
This food drive was the first event of its kind that Lambda Chi has ever done. In previous years, Lambda Chi held an annual Watermelon Bash, which included participants smashing watermelons and other activities. The Watermelon Bash was scrapped due to lack of money raised. The food drive was four times more successful than any other philanthropy event held by Lambda Chi.
Though the food drive ended last Friday, students and community members can still donate money and food to the St. Mary’s food bank.
Ben Dewitt can be reached at [email protected]