WKU News

On Saturday (April 18), WKU Greek fraternities and sororities culminated their food drive collections for CanStruct, donating approximately 55,424 food items to House on the Hill.

CanStruct begins the annual Greek Week at WKU as an opportunity to raise awareness of food insecurity and increase food donations to local distribution programs. The event is led by student chairs for the event, including Chaise Bethmann, a graduating senior in Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. 

“Being part of the WKU CanStruct event has been such a meaningful experience, especially knowing the direct impact our efforts have on the local community. The ultimate goal of our food donations is to help reduce food insecurity and support families who rely on local resources like House on the Hill. We hope these contributions not only provide immediate relief but also raise awareness and inspire continued service beyond this one event,” Bethmann said.

The team of chairs also includes Elliott Tapp [Sigma Nu Fraternity], David Euler [Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity] and Kloe Elms [Kappa Delta Sorority]. The group worked on CanStruct for several weeks leading up to the event.

According to Bethmann, students used a variety of creative strategies to collect food donations. Then, on event day, the outcome was two simultaneous efforts. At the Carroll Knicely Conference Center, representatives from each organization used a select number of food items to build structures from the food based on the Greek Week theme. At the same time, groups delivered thousands of canned food items to House on the Hill and began to sort them at the House on the Hill distribution center. 

House on the Hill seeks to provide affordable housing in community developments and transitional housing through The Guesthouse program, as well as access to fresh foods and groceries via The Grocery program, enhancing the quality of life for low-income individuals and families in our community.  

Entering this year’s CanStruct, WKU Greek chapters had reported 694,500 food contributions, and by adding 55,424, the lifetime giving surpassed 700,000 items in 10 years. WKU Greek Life has worked with the BG Realtors Association over those years, as they help with distribution.

“Overall, WKU CanStruct was more than just an event; it was a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together to serve others,” Bethmann said.

Contact: Andrew Rash, (270) 745-2484