The Wabash College basketball team encourages patrons to bring non-perishable food items for the Journal Review and Alpha Phi Omega food drive to this weekend’s season opener.
"We like to take part in any activity that is a positive contribution to the community," Wabash Basketball Coach Mac Petty said. "It being Thanksgiving, I think it’s time to start thinking in that direction."
Wabash hosts the Little Giant Tip Off Classic Friday and Saturday. Friday night games are at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday’s games will be held at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission.
"Wabash opens its basketball season this weekend, and given that the Tip Off Classic falls so close to Thanksgiving, it’s a perfect opportunity for the team to help feed the hungry of Montgomery County," said Jim Amidon, Wabash director of public affairs and marketing. "We hope all fans who attend this weekend’s games will do their part and bring food that the team can deliver next week as a part of the Journal Review’s Feed Your Neighbors food drive."
The groups started this particular food drive after another organization stopped collecting for a pantry run by FISH. The FISH pantry served more than 700 families — more than 2,800 persons — last year, solely through community donations.
"Jim Amidon put us in contact with Alpha Phi Omega fraternity brothers who immediately embraced the idea of a food drive," said Maria Flora, Journal Review assistant editor. "We hope they’ll partner with us next year in expanding the reach of the Feed Your Neighbors food drive."
The APO service fraternity placed boxes in campus buildings. Wabash faculty and staff donated several items, filling the containers.
"All of us at Wabash are proud that Alpha Phi Omega and the Wabash basketball team has partnered with the Journal Review for the Feed Your Neighbors food drive," Amidon said. "Most of our students have no idea what it feels like to be truly hungry, to go without meals for days on end. Helping collect for the newspaper’s food drive teaches them the valuable lesson that there are people — many of them — less fortunate than they are right here in our community."
Brittany Edwards is a reporter for the Crawfordsville Journal Review. This story appeared in its Nov. 17 issue.
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