It’s not your typical Saturday at the Lambda Chi Alpha house on the Arkansas State University campus.
There’s a beach volleyball game underway.
DJ King Vick is cranking up the music and there are teams cooking up BBQ.
But, what really catches your eye is a tent where service dogs can be seen.
The dogs have been driven in all the way from Waverly, Iowa. That’s the home of Retrieving Freedom, an organization that trains service dogs for veterans, individuals with autism and individuals with type one diabetes.
“We had a massive turnout that I wasn’t expecting so even more people were made aware of all the good that Retrieving Freedom does for veterans, and I think it’s important for people to know,” Drew Carnahan, External VP & Philanthropy Chair to Lambda Chi Alpha, said. “This year, we had more Retrieving Freedom dogs, more judges, more sororities, more people, and more barbecue.”
This year, the Red, White and Blue BBQ raised $8,400. That’s more than the fraternity has ever been able to raise in the past.
“I only hope we can top this year’s barbecue with next year’s, and I know we all look forward to trying,” Carnahan said.
