Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Collected Over 1.5 Million Pounds Of Food For Feeding America During Fall 2013 Semester

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During the fall 2013 semester, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Inc. collected more than 1.5 million pounds of food for Feeding America.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140210/DC62128)

The fall 2013 semester total includes both pounds raised and financial donations made by more than 100 chapters which equates to more than one million meals raised in the fight to end hunger.

"One of the seven core values we teach our undergraduates is service and stewardship," said Lambda Chi Alpha CEO Bill Farkas. "Our partnership with Feeding America serves as a great resource and educational tool about the importance of giving back to the local community. The food drives let our undergraduate members immediately see the positive impact they can have by collaborating with their local food banks."

Announced last summer, the Lambda Chi Alpha/Feeding America partnership is designed to improve the Fraternity's food collection program on nearly 200 college campuses. Per the terms of the partnership, Feeding America provides Lambda Chi Alpha chapters with Volunteer Engagement Guidelines and Food Drive Best Practices. In addition, Feeding America publicizes the events and food totals collected by Lambda Chi Alpha's chapters through its national network of 202 food banks, its blog, and via Feeding America's social media outlets.

For the fall 2013 semester, the top 10 chapters who reported verified food bank totals were:

• New Orleans (Lambda-Alpha) – 121, 490 pounds
• Mississippi State (Epsilon-Chi) – 67,351 pounds
• Missouri Science & Technology (Alpha-Delta) – 66,000 pounds
• Miami-Ohio (Zeta-Upsilon) – 56,250 pounds
• Louisiana-Lafayette (Iota-Omega) – 49,140 pounds
• Texas-San Antonio (Phi-Upsilon) – 43,243 pounds
• Coe (Zeta-Alpha) – 30,312 pounds
• Murray State (Lambda-Eta) – 30,309 pounds
• Butler (Alpha-Alpha) – 30,106 pounds
• Texas-Austin (Alpha-Mu) – 14,500 pounds

Unfortunately, hunger exists everywhere in the United States—in every county and every community. Last year, Feeding America provided 2.82 billion meals to 37 million people in all 50 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico. Some of the most shocking statistics about hunger are:

• 1 in 6 Americans face hunger
• According to the USDA, nearly 17 million children are living in food-insecure households
• 36 percent of households served by Feeding America network include at least one adult who works
• Approximately 23 percent of the adult client interviewed in Hunger in America 2010 have attended college or a technical school
• Approximately 3 million rural households experience food insecurity
• According to the USDA, limited resources prevent more than 50 million Americans from getting enough food

About Feeding America
Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 37 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit http://www.feedingamerica.org/. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity is one of the largest men's general fraternities in North America with more than 275,000 initiated members and has held chapters at more than 300 universities. In the early 1970s, it was the first fraternity to eliminate pledging and remains a leader in the fight against hazing, alcohol abuse, and other challenges facing today's college student. Lambda Chi Alpha serves to complement higher education by providing opportunities for academic achievement, leadership development, and lifelong friendships. To learn more about Lambda Chi Alpha and its traditions, principles, and ideals, please visit www.lambdachi.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LambdaChi or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LambdaChiAlpha.

CONTACT:  Thomas Lichtenauer, 1-317-803-7322, [email protected]

SOURCE Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.