Watermelon Bust donates food to NWA shelters

By: Channing Barker

Posted: 9/29/08

The UA chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity raised more than 43,000 pounds of food at its annual "Watermelon Bust" event Thursday.

The goal of the event was to collect as many nonperishable canned food items as possible for various NWA food banks and shelters, such as The Benton County Women's Shelter, Life Source International and the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter.

Last year, more than 55,000 pounds of food were raised, and the goal this year was to increase that total by 15,000 pounds.

In charge of the 2008 Watermelon Bust was sophomore David Koehler.

Events such as watermelon eating, volleyball and a slip-and-slide relay kept participants busy at the event, where members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority won by bringing in the most cans of food and winning the most events.

Mary Carr of Life Source International said the donations from Lambda Chi were greatly appreciated.

"This kind of help at this time is going to help out a whole lot because people around here don't get to buy food," Carr said. "Food comes after bills, especially at the end of the month."

Life Source International provides food and clothing and offers various services, including counseling, a senior citizen luncheon and an eight-week, after-school program that helps parents out by watching children when parents need to find jobs or work late.

"This year's Watermelon Bust was the smoothest run it has ever been during my tenure at the chapter," said John Mallory, senior and president of Lambda Chi.

"Everyone seemed to have a great time, including myself, and we had a great turnout from all the sororities," he said.

Members of Lambda Chi also work to help out members of the NWA community throughout the year by hosting a Christmas party for kids at Life Source International, serving Thanksgiving dinner for those at the homeless shelter and assisting the shelter by stocking food pantries and participating in food drives.