The event capped a three-week fundraiser for feedONE, an organization that aims to end starvation in poverty-stricken ?countries.
Fellowship director Derek Britt said Chi Alpha has been working with feedONE for the past few years, hosting monthly events like dine-and-donates.
“Chi Alpha members have been working in their core groups through the years to raise money,” he said. “The 24 groups meet once a week all around campus, whether in dorms, apartments or student buildings to discuss fundraising goals.”
This year, however, Chi Alpha decided to step it up Brit said.
“Our end goal in mind is to raise $15,000,” he said. “We’re planning two weeklong trips through feedONE: one to build a kitchen in Tanzania and the other to assist in Haiti.”
Britt said each participant was asked to individually raise money for the charity that then would go to that person’s core group’s average total.
Chi Alpha member Saul Woods said a variety of activities and ideas were used to collect and raise the ?money.
“We did things like using social media and even talking to our professors,” Woods said. “I personally donated plasma, and with the money I got from that, I gave it towards my feedONE total.”
Chi Alpha member Luke Furr said reaching out to family and friends as well as speaking in front of classes made a big difference in his core group’s fundraising ?total.
“We had a few people raise nearly $500 just from speaking with their professors and in front of their classes,” he said.
In addition to the student efforts, Chi Alpha had sponsors at the event to support the funds.
“BuffaLouie’s was a big supporter for this event,” Britt said. “A local church actually purchased a $500 gift card to BuffaLouie’s, and that money is going towards feedONE.”
Britt emphasized how not just this event but Chi Alpha’s partnership with feedONE plays a role in shaping its mission as a Christian ?fellowship.
“I often bring up a story of Steve Jobs when he saw a magazine cover of starving children in Africa, and it made him question his faith,” he said. “Being the Christian organization we are, we feel it’s a moral responsibility for us to help take care of others in need. We’re not just feeding people, we’re giving them an opportunity for a better future to learn and grow. We decided it was time to put our money where our mouths are with this event.”
Woods said not only is the fundraiser important for the donations themselves, but it helps spread overall awareness as well.
“People are sometimes hesitant to donate because they either don’t know much about the organization or they don’t know where their funds are going,” he said. “Just spreading the word that people are in need of help makes a difference.”
Furr said he doesn’t just think Chi Alpha will meet the total fundraising goal by the end of the event. He thinks they’ll exceed it.
“We’re making a huge impact,” he said. “We should go beyond our end goal of $15,000. Given that we had three weeks to raise it all is amazing. I don’t know math too well, but that’s a lot of money.”
