UAFS MOX and IDEAL Women host kickball tournament with Antioch Food Pantry

The Men of Excellence and the Intelligent Dignified Elegant Ambitious Leaders (IDEAL) Women's groups hosted on a kickball tournament with Antioch Food Pantry and Fry Daddy's food truck last week.

Students could sign up with a team to play in the tournament, enjoy free food and music and learn about the new student organizations on campus.

Glenn Brewer ll, president of the men's group, said the group was trying to think of ways to get food and groceries to students to fight food insecurity, but also "get rid of the stigma" that comes with it.

"Let's ditch the whole discretionary thing and let's make something that's... you shouldn't be ashamed to go get food if you need it," he said.

Brewer said his parliamentarian Gabe Racher was the most "hands on" among the MOX members in coordinating the tournament. The two reached out to Antioch food pantry and met founder Charlotte Tidwell.

"She's great, whenever she puts her mind to something, she's got to get it done," Brewer said. "She gave us a vision for what she wanted and we had a vision for trying to change the social life with for the campus and we incorporated both to make something happen."

The IDEAL Women 's group started months ago during the university's "cup camp," when a group vice president Esther Suarez said it was "shocking."

But, other members praised staff faculty and Chancellor Terisa Riley for being especially helpful in pointing the group of women in the right direction to start their organization.

"I'm really excited and I'm really hopeful to see how it grows and how we're going to be able to make even the slightest change at the university and in our community," Suarez said.

She continued to explain that the success so far has come from the help and involvement of the faculty that may not be as present on larger college campuses.

"We're having to build it up from nothing, but the fact that we have support is what really is inspiring," Suarez said.

Savvy Shoppach, head of public relations, said she can't wait for IDEAL Women to be officially established at the university.

"I'm glad UAFS is going to have a place where women can have a support system without having to be in a sorority..." Shoppach said "[And] it is a sisterhood and we love everyone."

Shoppach and Suarez hope IDEAL Women leaves a legacy at the university and that it goes far for many years to come.

The two student groups had referees at multiple games of kickball, cooks in Fry Daddy's food truck and a live dj.

Brewer said the women's group helps add a sense of structure to their planning. This is the IDEAL Women's first event as they finish registering as an official student organization.

Clorice Kursh, a volunteer cook at Fry Daddy's, said she got involved through the McGill Center and Antioch. She attended events with her family as a child and now that she's an adult, she wants to give back too.

"I need help myself now but I'm the type of person that I'm not going to stop from helping somebody else just because I need it," she said.

All of the students were impressed by Tidwell and her volunteers' dedication to helping others.

"There's nobody that should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from," Bewer said. "If you can help fight food insecurity or any of the basic necessities of human life, you definitely want to be a part of that. We're just blessed to be a part of such a great working partnership with Antioch."

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: UAFS MOX and IDEAL Women host kickball tournament