Lamda Chi Pumpkin Smash Events

            Friday, Nov. 18, the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter here on campus held a Pumpkin Smash to fundraise for Feeding America. The pumpkins were donated by a local farm and smashed by participants out in the Gaebe courtyard for $5. The brothers had other games such as bowling and went to the extent of having a food truck available for students to purchase a meal from. But this tradition is actually national; brothers of Lambda Chi across the country host and participate in a pumpkin smash event toward the end of fall. All to give back to the very charity that sponsors them.

            Jack Stevens, the current President-Elect and Recruitment Officer, explains the inspiration for the fundraiser spawning from a visit with their brother chapter at Worcester Polytechnic Institute who does the Pumpkin Smash every year. Unfortunately, COVID precluded the JWU chapter from hosting one for years, which made this one the second in the brothers’ experience. Scotty, a general member, dove further into the philanthropy that many fraternities and sororities pride themselves on. He explains, “Every Lambda Chi chapter is associated with Feeding America wherever you go and then we have chapter specific philanthropies. Our chapter is also connected to The Jed Foundation, which is anti-domestic violence, and One Love, which is along the same lines of anti-domestic abuse.”

            The Pumpkin Smash is one of their larger events that helps Feeding America but they hold rallies, dances, or other smaller events for the other two charities. Scotty added that by reaching out to local farmers and working for a good cause allows the organization to network and establish those necessary connections for brothers down the line. Chris Dimovski, President of Lambda Chi, speaks to the importance of philanthropy for the brothers; he finds it’s a great way for fraternities to give back to their community and help charities in need. In today’s unstable climate, isn’t all we need a helping hand?