The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) will be hosting a food drive throughout the month of February to prepare for WeberCAN. WeberCAN will allow teams, clubs and groups from Weber State University to collect food donations during the month of February.

The donations collected will then be used in a sculpture competition. The competition will take place on March 4 in the Shepherd Union Atrium.

Olivia Gerrish, the Engaged Learning Series assistant coordinator, described the event as a fun way for students to do some service. “People can register a team and then begin collecting food donations as a team. They can donate themselves and go around in the community to ask for donations,” she said.

WeberCAN’s food drive has a twist.

Gerrish explained what teams will do with the donations they collect. “The teams will then build sculptures using their collected food. The sculptures will then be judged,” she said.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. on March 4 and will run until 2 p.m. After the sculpting is completed the sculptures will then be judged and prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Best in Show (first place)
• Best Meal (honorable mention)
• Most Cans Used (honorable mention)
• Least Cans Used (honorable mention)

The sculptures need to be self-supporting. Only the following items may be used in the competition and they must be provided by the team:

• Velcro
• Clear and double-stick tape
• High-tension rubber bands
• Nylon string
• Wire and tie-backs
• Two-by-four pieces
• Plywood
• Cardboard
• Foam-core

“I think this is a great way to donate cans for a good cause,” said Hannah Woolard, a junior at WSU. “I will stop by to see the sculptures if I get the chance.”

Gerrish’s suggestion to students is to just register. “It is going to be a blast! It is a great way to grow closer as a club, team or even a group of friends. It will be a great college memory for students to look back on,” she said.

Students wanting to get involved with WeberCAN will be able to register as a team on WeberSync.  Additional information about the competition is also available on WeberSync for students to view.

“The donations will go to the Weber Cares food pantry and Catholic Community Services,” said Gerrish, “Weber Cares will have the chance to come down and take what they think is most needed in the food pantry for Weber State students. The rest of the donations will be taken to Catholic Community Services.”

Those students who are wanting to get in some service hours but don’t have time to be involved in the collection and sculpture competition have another option for getting involved.

For students who would like to participate, but not as a competing team, students can register themselves as volunteers through WeberSync to help take down structures on March 5 at 2 p.m. and move the donations to Weber Cares and the Catholic Community Services.