Changing lives one can at a time

Imagine what it would be like to get your paycheck and have to make a decision; pay the rent or buy baby formula. One out of every five families in Pueblo is faced with similar decisions every day. According to the United States Census Bureau there are over 8,000 households earning less than poverty level income in Pueblo County.

The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at CSU-Pueblo coordinates a food drive called the North American Food Drive. It is an international effort founded by Lambda Chi Alpha’s international headquarters in Indianapolis. The fraternity as a whole raised over 3 million pounds of food in 2006. The local chapter raised close to 40,000 pounds of food for the community of Pueblo in 2005.

At the end of October the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity will kick off their annual food drive once again. Their goal this year is to raise over 50,000 pounds of food. In coordination with other non-profit organizations such as Care and Share and St. Josephs Parish, members of the local Lambda Chi Alpha chapter are confident that they will reach their goal.

“It’s amazing to see a large community such as Pueblo come to together to give relief to those families who are less fortunate,” said Christopher Weidner, the chapters’ current president.

According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics; with the current minimum wage, an individual with a significant other and a child would have to make over $12 an hour or work 72 hours a week to support a family. It is amazing what lengths parents go to, to support their families. With the minimum wage increasing it’s making it easier to support a family but it’s still impossible to raise their income level above poverty line without more then one source of income.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon the fraternity has already began its efforts to raise donations towards its cause. The local Lambda Chi Alpha chapter has started soliciting businesses for donations and have met with schools to encourage competitions between grades, hoping that the competition with help them raise even more food this year.
The fraternity passes out over 3,000 bags in community neighborhoods, extending from El Camino north to Belmont.
It may take close to a total of 10 hours to pass out and collect all the bags, but it’s worth it at the end of the day when you know that a family got a Thanksgiving feast that they otherwise would have gone without, according to the local Lambda Chi Alpha chapter.

It seems to be a common thought among people that Christmas is about material gifts such as bicycles, stereos and cell phones but according to the fraternity it should be about the gift of relief.

“If the fraternity can make it easier for one man or one woman to provide for their family then we have accomplished our goal,” said Scott Hinkle, fraternity alumnus.

Since the fraternity’s inception in Pueblo in 1996, the chapter at CSU-Pueblo has raised close to 300,000 pounds of food for the community and hopes to reach their goal of half a million by 2011; this corresponds to an average of 50,000 pounds a year.

“It may be a challenge, but we’re not afraid. We are as determined as ever to reach and hopefully exceed our goal,” said Joshua Magallanez, the chapter’s community service coordinator.

One can only imagine what a difference 50,000 pounds of food can make to a community like Pueblo. Similar chapters of the fraternity around the nation barely raise half of what the local chapter does.

“The fraternity’s ability to raise such a large amount of food for a community the size of Pueblo is amazing, these young men are truly dedicated to making a difference,” said Christopher Turner, a Pueblo resident.

“It’s amazing what a difference an organization can make on a community, when they’re willing to work hard, make changes, and break the mold,” said Matthew Valdez, former community service coordinator.

Now imagine a family gathered around a kitchen table with smiles on their faces and more food then they’ve ever seen. This is what the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brings to our community. Weidner said all they ask for is your support, donations and help.

“Being part of an organization that changes lives is an amazing feeling. Be part of that feeling. Help us change lives one can at a time,” Weidner said.

The fraternity will kick off this year’s food drive on Oct. 27, 2007 and it will conclude on Nov. 3, 2007.

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