Kids costumed for a cause
USU’s Chi Omega sorority raised about 340 cans of food from donations given at a Halloween carnival. Other Greek organizations and around 30 on-campus clubs participated in the carnival Wednesday. “The Chi Omegas have just as much fun as the kids, if not more, because it’s a lot of fun to see how excited they get and to see all their costumes,” said Kiera Radman, senior member of Chi Omega.
Admission to the carnival was a donation of one can per child or five cans per family, which the sorority then donates to the Cache Community Food Pantry. People also had the option of making a cash donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The Chi Omegas managed to raise 600 cans of food last year. Members were hoping to raise even more this year after having stepped up advertising, said Chi Omega Service Chair Jennifer Gasser. However, the sorority fell short of their goal when the two-hour carnival ended at 6 p.m.
The sorority also raised about $1,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation during last year’s carnival. Details on the cash donations for this year were not immediately available.
Canned food donations ended with the carnival, but cash donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation are accepted by the sorority throughout the year.
The carnival, which was held in the Fieldhouse, is Chi Omega’s fall semester philanthropy project and has been going on for several years, Gasser said.
During the spring, the sorority sells roses for Valentine’s Day, giving all proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which is also the sorority’s national philanthropy foundation, said Chi Omega President Sara Parker.
According to the Chi Omega local chapter Web site, more than 700 children attend the carnival each year, and with the help of the community, Chi Omega donates about 1,300 cans of food to the pantry each year.
“It’s fun. I like this,” said Charlie Viator, a 3-year-old dressed as a pirate who participated in the carnival’s activities.
The carnival featured tables set up by several organizations on campus with games and activities for kids to win candy or prizes. The activities ranged from tossing balls into plastic cups filled with goldfish and candy at the Sigma Chi table to mixing slime at the USU Chemistry Club’s table.
Other activities included throwing balls into bowls floating in a plastic swimming pool, pin the nose on the pumpkin, fishing and face painting.
For more information about the sorority and its service efforts, visit its Web site at www.chiomega.com/alphagamma.
-bri.jones@aggiemail.usu.edu
One-year-old Connor Brakefield attended the Halloween carnival Wednesday afternoon. The carnival and food drive was hosted by Chi Omega. (NOELLE BERLAGE)