Greeks collect canned food for charitable cause

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat Arts and Sciences seniors, Mike DiNucci (left) and Casey Lohrman unload food cans that will be donated to charities for the annual Watermelon Bust. Lohrman hopes to exceed last year's collection of 14,000 pounds of food.

Casey Lohrman, chairman of the event, said he expected this year's total to increase from the 14,000 pounds collected last year.

"This is a way Greeks can do something good for the community," he said.

Pledge classes from 12 sororities are participating in the competition, competing for a 6-foot-tall trophy and the recognition that comes with collecting the most cans of food, Lohrman said.

Chapin Hertel, a member of the Pi Beta Phi pledge class, one of the largest classes in the event, said points are given both for the collected food and the spirit shown during competition.

Hertel said her group had a karaoke night with Lambda Chi Alpha and brought them breakfast as part of the activities.

"We do everything we can for Lambda Chi all week," to gain spirit points, she said.

The event was started 12 years ago by the national headquarters of Lambda Chi Alpha. All proceeds from the fund-raiser go to the Tucson Community Food Bank and the North American Canned Food Drive, said Brady Young, a member of the fraternity.

The competition began Monday, when two to four members of Lambda Chi Alpha accompanied each sorority pledge class through the neighborhoods surrounding UA, leaving boxes and bags for people to put donations in, Lohrman said.

He said about 25-square miles were covered because each team covers about two square miles.

Lohrman said he has no estimate on who is winning the competition because throughout the week the food is collected and hidden so the winner will be a surprise.

In addition to collecting food, the pledge classes raid houses, stealing articles they will ransom, Lohrman said. The ransom money goes toward the purchase of more food, he said.

Hertel said her group kidnapped the officers of Lambda Chi Alpha earlier this week and held them for spirit points. She said her group has also asked for donations from grocery stores.

The event has been really important for her class because it made them work together to accomplish a goal, she said.

"Working together brought us together," Hertel said.