Philanthropy Focus
Lambda Chi Alpha's North American Food Drive.
Typically held on the first Saturday in November, Lambda Chi Alpha's North American Food Drive (NAFD) is arguably the largest single-day Fraternity philanthropy project. Over 220 chapters collect food for their local food banks, sometimes with help of other Greeks on campus. Begun in 1993, the project was quickly a success, raising over 850,000 pounds of food in 1996. In 1997, LCA chapters across the continent raised over 1 million pounds of food for local food banks.
LCAs in Alberta Get Good Press University of Alberta's Epsilon-Rho Zeta alone raised over 6184 kg (15,300 lbs.) in 1997. At the time of press coverage by the Edmonton Journal Press and Edmonton Sun Press, no other organization had raised as much food for the Edmonton Food Bank.
Canadian Living Foundation states that one million Canadian children attend school hungry. A Kingston, Ontario press service claims that each month, 100 families become reliant on Ontario's 183 food banks. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society feeds over 7000 men, women and children each week, up 29% from 1997. Canada's hungry arrive in greater numbers to the doors of our nation's food banks, a 5.4% increase since 1997. Thankfully, concerned Canadians are donating more food than ever before.
Greg Johnson of Iota-Iota Zeta emphasizes that charity is fun. "It gives us the opportunity to give something to the community by working to help alleviate the hunger on the streets. Another aspect of the NAFD often not emphasized is that it is fun. It is a way to spend some time together that is different from the typical Òeveryone hang out in AshleyÕs roomÓ day."
Delta-Eta Zeta alumnus Keith McEwen organized the UWO chapter's effort in 1997. "At UWO, we rank in the top 15 Lambda Chi chapters in this category over the last five years (cumulative totals), so we know we are making a difference in London," he confirmed. "The goal of the NAFD is not only to raise substantial amounts of food for people across Canada and the United States, but also to increase public concern about the hunger problem in London."
TOP 15! Delta-Eta Zeta members got a little help from Zeta Chi Chapter AGDs for the 1996 LCA NAFD in London.
Over the past six years, Delta-Eta has raised 26,363 kg (over 58,000 lbs) of food. Lambda Chi Alpha has well over 200,000 initiated members and is one of the largest NIC Fraternities. There are four active chapters of LCA in Canada: at U of T, McGill, U of A and UWO. Thanks very much Duncan McRae, Keith McEwen and Rob Simon of Delta-Eta Zeta for help with this feature.