Mercer University students raise charity funds by smashing pumpkins

A combination of painted pumpkins and bits of demolished pumpkin pieces adorned the front lawn of Mercer's School of Medicine on Sunday afternoon for Lambda Chi Alpha's "Pumpkin Bust."

Mercer University's chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha smashed pumpkins at its first-ever Pumpkin Bust to help raise money and food for local food banks.

Greek life members from Alpha Delta Phi, Alpha Gamma Delta and Chi Omega gathered on the green space outside of the School of Medicine building to participate in various games for the charity event.

"Groups of five come together and do different events like relay race, pumpkin painting and a pumpkin pie eating contest," Tyler Goubeaux said. The cost for participating was $10 per person and $50 a team.

The teams were timed for each event, from the pumpkin painting to the relay race.

"They all do it to get points and the overall winners win different prizes donated from local businesses," Goubeaux said.

All the profits that Lambda Chi Alpha makes from each team will go to the local food bank -- Middle Georgia Community Food Bank -- where each dollar raised contributes to 10 pounds worth of food.

"This year, we're hoping to have raised around 3,500 pounds of food. Last year, we got a little under that," he said.

The "Pumpkin Bust," was originally a "Watermelon Bust," but since the event didn't take place until after summer was over, and it's October, Goubeaux said Lambda Chi Alpha decided that pumpkins would be fitting.

After all the points were tallied, a team from Alpha Gamma Delta won. Morgan Todd, a member of the winning team, said that "teamwork" was key to their success.

"We always have fun at this event," she said.

To contact writer David Schick, call 744-4382 or find him on Twitter@davidcschick.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Mercer University students raise charity funds by smashing pumpkins ."