Fraternity & Sorority Life partnered with Campus Kitchen to host a food drive at College Coffee that collected food for local community partners Allied Churches and Salvation Army to serve those suffering from food insecurity in Alamance County.
Students from each fraternity and sorority were invited to donate food as part of a competition for the upcoming Greek Dance. The organization that donated the most pounds of food within each division would be able to choose when they perform in the dance lineup. The winning organization was Alpha Chi Omega bringing in 1,270 pounds.
“This is a perfect example of how when we [fraternities and sororities] collaborate together we can have a positive impact on the surrounding community,” said Jordan King, interim director of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
A table was set up at College Coffee and all 4,400-plus pounds of food were delivered during that short window of time, sorted on site and then loaded into a truck to be delivered to Campus Kitchen’s community partners, Allied Churches and Salvation Army, by noon that same day.
“It is hard to believe that, in just the second year of this food drive, we had such a phenomenal turnout,” said Sarah Williams, staff advisor to Campus Kitchen. “We are so grateful to the FSL staff and students, and think they have established a new campus tradition that will go on to make such a positive difference to those suffering from hunger here in Alamance County.”
The need in this state is staggering with one in four children suffering from food insecurity, with 36 percent of food pantries in North Carolina having turned away people way for a lack of food to give them, according to Feeding the Carolinas.
Inidivduals and organizations interested in hosting a food drive or becoming involved with Campus Kitchen can email campuskitchen@elon.edu.
In addition, food can be donated at any time throughout the year in the bin on the second floor of Moseley outside of the Kernodle Center. Current high-need items include cereal, canned meat, peanut butter, jelly, salt, pepper, pastas and sauces, rice and potatoes.