Chi-Hop a sweet success

Usually the only reward people receive for donating to charities is the satisfaction of knowing they contributed to positive changes in their communities. Chi Omega sweetened the deal this past Monday.

Opening their sorority house from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the first "Chi-Hop" since 2008, Chi Omega raised approximately $350 during their all-you-can-eat pancake night for the charity Clothe-A-Child.

"The food was great, the service was great and I look forward to the next one," junior liberal studies major Darren Carter said.

The sorority donated the money they raised earlier this week.

 "We went to Wal-Mart and met with the Hunt County Clothe-A-Child and the High School Honor Society to help the families that came to receive the clothes," Chi Omega and senior speech communications writer Katie McKenna said. "We helped each child and family keep track of how much each item cost until they reached their limit of $50."

Chi Omega made 600 pancakes for approximately 200 participants.

"I'm really proud of the turnout," sophomore human performance major Morgan Moeller said. "We did not anticipate that many participants. It was difficult to know what to do since there wasn't a recent year to look back on, but we pulled it off really well. Seeing how successful it was with not knowing what to expect, we're going to make it an annual event."

Chi-Hop has not been held in over two years and the ladies of the Chi Omega sorority thought it was time for them to bring it back.

 "Semester of fall 2008 was the last time it had been done, it had kind of been out on the back burner while we started doing more to get involved in other ways," said Chi Omega member Dawn Caruso.

The event took place at the Chi Omega house  on Monday Dec. 6. Tickets were sold the previous week for $3 and for $5 at the door. The Chi Omegas served pancakes with a choice of syrup, whip-cream, chocolate chips, and/or blueberries. Bacon, orange juice and milk rounded out the meal.

Erika Sottiaux, sophomore special education major and Chi Omega member, was also pleased with the event.

"I really like this event and hopefully next year we'll get an even bigger facility to do it in," said Sottiaux.