Archive for Saturday, November 14, 2009
Fraternity’s food and cash drive to benefit homeless
Mary Gordon makes a donation to the TKE fraternity Friday at the Clinton Parkway Hy-Vee.
November 14, 2009
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KU fraternity supports local shelter, charities
The TKE fraternity from Kansas University will spend the next 48 hours living in a cardboard house of sorts to raise money and collect food for the Lawrence Community Shelter and the EKan program. It is the second year the fraternity has participated in the event. Enlarge video
Members of KU’s Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity are homeless until noon Sunday, but it’s for a good cause.
“We’re doing our second-ever TKE in a Box,” said Kristopher Nielsen, the fraternity president.
The fraternity brothers will spend a total of 48 hours in front of the Hy-Vee food store at Clinton Parkway and Kasold Drive in a cardboard abode.
“What we do is we’ll live in this cardboard structure for 48 hours nonstop,” Nielsen said, “raising canned food for the Lawrence ECKAN food pantry and raising cash donations for the Lawrence Community Shelter.”
Nielsen summed it up: “Effectively, we’re being homeless to help the homeless.”
The KU fraternity’s first campout at Hy-Vee was last semester, and members raised about $500 for the shelter and collected more than 600 canned food items for the food pantry. Not all TKE brothers will spend all 48 hours in their hut.
“It’s hard to ask so many for their Friday and Saturday nights, so we’ll have people alternating,” Nielsen said. “We’re running in four- to eight-hour shifts.”
Nielsen would like to hold TKE in a Box every semester to develop a following in the community and to consistently contribute to the two charities.
“Hopefully we can grow this into something that reaches something of notoriety,” Nielsen said, “and people start knowing to plan for it and come out for it.”
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14 November 2009
at 2:50 a.m.
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jadedonreality (Anonymous) says…
weak. i mean… it's a good effort, and it helps an organization that could use it. so, above all: applause!
Nielsen should have finished the sentence, “Effectively, we’re being homeless to help the homeless [by… tactic].”
Where the tactic is living in a cardboard house in a Hy-Vee parking lot for 4-8 hour shifts for one weekend. NO homeless person lives that life.
If you really want to emphasize: if you really want to help out of human desire to help fellow humans… you have to really live your life alongside and utilize all your resources to the common struggle.
14 November 2009
at 8:10 a.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
It's amazing how Americans will make themselves feel good about themselves with gimmicks and then turn around and rant about the same people they supposedly cared about. Somewhere greed became the only value Americans respect and we could provide for more people but our unrelenting greed in how we live, consume, and even how we raise money for others but we won't consider a different way of doing things. Wouldn't the frat been able to come up with enough money to provide the same thing if they just didn't drive for a week and use the gas money saved to buy canned goods? Or how about money saved from a week of not drinking? But I guess if there isn't a way to get attention for themselves it isn't as much fun. Just more of the same.
14 November 2009
at 8:12 a.m.
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edjayhawk (Anonymous) says…
Not sure how to respond to your comment other then you are really pathetic…
14 November 2009
at 8:13 a.m.
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edjayhawk (Anonymous) says…
Both or your comments…
14 November 2009
at 8:26 a.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
2Bfrank, Mary is the type that gives hope, the people who give as opposed to those who feed on this town and university like maggots, you named the chief one.
14 November 2009
at 9:04 a.m.
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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…
I have a better idea Ripper. Why don't the professional vagrants put the bottle down for a month so they can see what happens. Then maybe the frat boys wouldn't need to hold funraisers for them.
14 November 2009
at 9:57 a.m.
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Irish (Irish Swearingen) says…
I am proud of the members of TKE. I too hope this event become bigger and that people know about it and plan for it.
These KU students are doing what they have within their means to do to help someone.
There are many homeless people who do live in cardboard boxes.
I also want to thank Hi-Vee for letting the students use their parking lot.
Maybe at this point there will be enough students participating that several stores will want in on this.
As an ex-homeless person I applaud TKE.
14 November 2009
at 10:12 a.m.
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Sulla (Anonymous) says…
'am proud of the members of TKE. I too hope this event become bigger and that people know about it and plan for it.'
Uhh..you know that the entire gesture, coming from Frat Boys ,is as phony as they are.
14 November 2009
at 10:24 a.m.
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SofaKing (Anonymous) says…
Can't stand drunk college students and that's what Frat Boys represent.
14 November 2009
at 10:28 a.m.
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sarahsmilehawk (Anonymous) says…
TKE's official philanthropy is the Alzheimer's Foundation, so the fraternity is probably doing this drive in addition to whatever the do for Alzheimer's.
I agree that TKE In a Box doesn't effectively mimic the homeless experience. Instead, they station themselves outside a grocery store where people in the community will see them and can conveniently buy items to donate. Considering most greek philanthropies are ignored by everyone outside greek life, I think this is quite a smart fundraiser.
It's unfair to say that these men are phony in their desire to help simply because they belong to a social organization.
14 November 2009
at 10:31 a.m.
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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…
I don't this it is “phony” to participate in good will especially during the holiday season when the food pantries are used more. Several groups on campus use this time of year to donate. The black lawyers group raises alot of money and uses a U-haul truck to distribute food to pantries every year. I would however much rather see money spent to provide a decent christmas for those who cannot afford it over dumping money in Lorings drunk tank.
14 November 2009
at 11:05 a.m.
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pace (Anonymous) says…
Thanks to the frat boys for doing something. For all those that suggest other people should be doing something (a common suggestion) they should at least consider doing something themselves. For those that worry the homeless drink, support programs that help them recover. Never give a panhandler a dime, give it to the groups that feed the hungry or help them find jobs. The largest group in the homeless are vets, the largest growing segment are families who previously had jobs and homes.
14 November 2009
at 11:46 a.m.
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bluerain (Anonymous) says…
I am offended by the tactic these boys have used to raise money for the economically needy. A cardboard box representing the home of a homeless person in front of HyVee! The boys and the organizations that have supported this fundraiser demonstrate a lack of sensitivity to those in need of housing through the use of this fundraising tactic. The boys should of used a different tactic to raise money for ECKAN and the Lawrence Community Center.
14 November 2009
at 12:26 p.m.
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Irish (Irish Swearingen) says…
How accurate are the assumptions being made about Fraternities?
No reason for anyone to take offense at this fundraiser.
14 November 2009
at 12:34 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
“sarahsmilehawk (Anonymous) says…
TKE's official philanthropy is the Alzheimer's Foundation, so the fraternity is probably doing this drive in addition to whatever the do for Alzheimer's.
I agree that TKE In a Box doesn't effectively mimic the homeless experience. Instead, they station themselves outside a grocery store where people in the community will see them and can conveniently buy items to donate. Considering most greek philanthropies are ignored by everyone outside greek life, I think this is quite a smart fundraiser.
It's unfair to say that these men are phony in their desire to help simply because they belong to a social organization.”
Sarah, currently we have a commissioner who is trying to rid the streets of people who are actually living the experience the frat boys are pretending to live. Why do we need a fake example when the real thing is all around us and bothering our wealthy citizens in town?
14 November 2009
at 12:38 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
bluerain you may want to take a look at the history of KU. During the 30's these same types had hobo days on campus, it was a cute thing for them to do while so many suffered. I'm sure they had the same belief of Maria Antoinette, let them eat cake.
14 November 2009
at 1:45 p.m.
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Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…
“Mary is the type that gives hope, the people who give as opposed to those who feed on this town and university like maggots, you named the chief one.”
This one wins the dumbest-comment-of-the-day award. Perkins has brought millions to KU; he hasn't been feeding on the university. Have you been to Allen Fieldhouse lately? It looks better than ever. Also, I can guarantee that he gives a lot more to charity in one year than you'll give in fifty.
14 November 2009
at 4:08 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
Haiku_Cuckoo, no I'm afraid you comment wins that honor. Allen Fieldhouse??? Are you serious? For serious basketball fans the fieldhouse was just fine as it was and didn't need to be glamorized. Remember KU is a university and for those who have forgotten, that is place where you go for an education and Lew does nothing to benefit that mission yet is the highest paid person at KU. I would certainly hope when making millions a year that he would be giving more than me, if nothing else for tax write offs.