 |
History of the North American Food Drive |
The North American Food Drive was first presented at the 1993 Leadership Seminar based on the efforts and success of the "Pantry Raid" food drive of the Theta-Eta Zeta chapter at Millsaps College. With the success of "Pantry Raid" in mind and a desire for an international phlanthropy, the General Fraternity developed the North American Food Drive.
The first official food drive was implemented on November 6,1993. With 150 chapters and colonies participating, Lambda Chi Alpha far exceeded its 100,000 pound goal by collecting over 256,416 pounds of food. Coverage by CNN, dozens of local television stations, and hundreds of newspapers, big and small, brought positive publicity to Lambda Chi Alpha and its fight against hunger.
1994
The second annual North American Food Drive was held with a goal of raising 400,000 pounds of food. Chapter participation increased to 170 chapters, and more than 415,000 pounds of food was collected. Again, the event gathered significant media coverage from across North America.
1995
The event's third year showed that the food drive was a project of international significance as the total for the first time exceeded one-half million. The event featured 185 chapters and colonies raising 551,570 pounds of food for the needy. Media coverage of the event continued to grow as many chapters gathered television and radio stations as sponsors.
1996
The fourth annual North American Food Drive once again set new precedents for a single-day collegiate drive and continued to raise international awareness for the Fraternity. With 191 chapters and colonies participating, significant regional efforts taking place in Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Indianapolis, and over 11,000 students taking part, 835,588 pounds of food were raised, shattering the old total and setting the Fraternity's sights on one million pounds of food for 1997.
1997
The event's fifth year was a tremendous sign of growth for the Fraternity as the goal reached one million pounds. The event featured over 200 chapters nationwide exceeding the goal of one million with a grand total of 1,127,845 pounds. Media coverage continued to grow as the participation and the totals began to rise.
1998
The sixth annual North American Food Drive...
1999
As this year's food drive is fastly approaching the goal has been set to a new height of pounds. Through the hard work and determination of all of the participating chapters this goal should be conquerable. With continued support from the media and the event sponsors this event will continue to be a success into the new millennium.