by Kiara Posey
Students are gearing up to put their castle-making skills to the test, and in the process help fight childhood hunger.
The Can Castle Contest is held by the Office of Civic Engagement and Student Involvement. Each year, the two organizations come together to host a food drive that helps keep the Backpack for Kids program supplied with food.
During the contest, student groups and organizations donate nonperishable food items and build a “castle” using their donations. The castles are then critiqued by a panel of judges. In the end, the organizations with the best “can castle” design and most donated items receive an award for their efforts. This year, the goal is to collect 6,000 items that benefit the community.
“Can Castle engages students to learn about, mobilize and address challenges in their own communities,” said Lauren Cochran, Troy University’s Coordinator of Civic Engagement. “Through this initiative, they become more informed about the needs of others and participate in a fun activity that meets the most basic needs of the youth in our city.”
The food drive originally started as a Greek Week initiative. Fraternities and sororities across campus came together to engage in a friendly competition to serve their community. In recent years, the Office of Civic Engagement has worked to expand it to all student organizations.
Sarah Mayes, a junior biomedical science major from Meridianville, Alabama, participated in the food drive last year with the Christian Student Center.
“It was so fun,” Mayes said. “In the building contest itself, there’s strategy, creativity, and competition. I’m looking forward to doing it again.”
Donations from the Can Castle Contest support the Backpacks for Kids program, a partnership between Civic Engagement and Freshman Forum. This program gives zip-up bags of nonperishable items to the community. These efforts work towards the goal of reducing food insecurity in the children of Pike County.
“I was really glad to get to help because food insecurity is something that affects a lot of people, and it often goes by without people noticing,” Mayes said. “Can Castle was an easy way to help take care of folks and show them love in a tangible way.”
The food drive will be on March 29. To sign up or find more information, visit the Office of Civic Engagement’s website.
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