Can a Can of Food Bring a Community Together?

It can — and it has. In fact, it’s doing that right now in southeastern Virginia.

If you’ve ever felt like big problems like hunger are too massive to solve, you’re not alone. But what if you could do something meaningful with something as small as a can of beans?

That’s the power of Canstruction, one of the most creative and impactful community engagement activities you’ll see all year. It’s not just about art and engineering, it’s about making a real, tangible change in our community.

Let’s break down how this one-of-a-kind canned food art competition works and how your participation does more than just feed families — it helps build a stronger, more connected community.

What Is Canstruction?

Canstruction is a charity art exhibition, a canned food art competition, and a hunger-fighting campaign all rolled into one. It brings together professionals in architecture, construction, engineering, and design who compete to build massive, gravity-defying structures using nothing but canned food and creativity.

From superheroes to city skylines, the sculptures on display are impressive. But the true value isn’t in the visual impact — it’s in the mission: every can used in the exhibit is donated to a local food bank after the event ends.

This is what community engagement looks like when it’s hands-on, innovative, and high-impact.

How You Can Be Part of Canstruction 2025

Now that you’ve seen the why and the how, here’s what comes next.

Canstruction 2025 is coming to Lynnhaven Mall, and there are four simple ways you can make a difference:

1. Come See the Exhibit

📅 April 28 – May 9, 2025
Bring your family. Share the experience. Post it online. Your visit helps raise awareness and momentum.

2. Sponsor a Team or Donate Cans

Support the builders by funding the cost of nutritious canned food. Even small donations can help push a team’s build over the finish line.

3. Volunteer with the Foodbank

Join us during De-canstruction on May 10, 2025, or help sort and pack food year-round. It’s one of the most direct ways to make a difference.

4. Start Your Own Engagement Activity

Can’t make it to Canstruction? Start your own mini food drive. Host a discussion at your school. Replicate the idea on a small scale in your community.

Why Community Engagement Activities Matter (And Why Most Fall Short)

Here’s the thing: everyone says they want to support their community. However, without genuine participation and purpose, most community engagement activities often feel hollow.

Canstruction works because it hits three critical elements that drive real community impact:

1. It’s visible

People can walk through Lynnhaven Mall and see the impact for themselves. It’s not abstract. It’s right in front of you.

2. It’s collaborative

This isn’t a one-team effort. It takes coordination between companies, volunteers, shoppers, and the Foodbank. It’s about working together toward one goal: ending hunger.

3. It’s productive

Canstruction doesn’t just raise awareness — it raises tons of food. Literally. All those cans are distributed directly to local pantries and family homes.

That’s the power of turning community engagement into community action.

A Look Inside: The Technical Side of Canstruction

Let’s be clear — this isn’t a casual food drive. Canstruction is a complex, technical, and time-sensitive competition.

Each team follows strict guidelines and timelines:

Design Phase: Teams create blueprints using software like AutoCAD or SketchUp to plan their structures.
Label Coordination: Cans are selected based on color, shape, and label design to match the visual layout of the sculpture.
Structural Planning: Engineers calculate weight distribution and stability. These sculptures stand several feet tall, without the use of glue or hidden supports.
Build Day: On April 27, 2025, teams will arrive early at Lynnhaven Mall. By the afternoon, entire structures will rise in just a few hours.
Judging: Categories include Best Design, Best Use of Labels, Structural Integrity, Most Cans, and more.
De-canstruction: On May 10, 2025, everything is carefully taken apart — and every can is donated to the Foodbank.

This is engineering with heart. Art with a mission. And logistics with a purpose.

What 2024 Taught Us: Canstruction’s Real-World Results

Let’s talk about the results. In 2024, the Canstruction event in southeastern Virginia delivered:

Over 16,000 cans donated
Dozens of professionals engaged across 5 major teams
Thousands of local families are impacted through nutritious food
Widespread public participation and awareness

Here are the standout teams and their contributions:

Team	Recognition	Cans Used
Clark Nexsen	Best Original Design & Most Cans	5,160 cans
HBA Architecture	Structural Integrity	3,300 cans
AECOM	Best Meal (balanced nutrition)	2,570 cans
Moseley Architects	Best Use of Labels	1,554 cans
Whiting-Turner	Honorable Mention	4,010 cans

All that food was sorted and delivered by Foodbank volunteers and staff, and turned into real meals for real people.

Why This Model Works (and Can Be Replicated)

Canstruction is more than an event. It’s a repeatable model of successful community engagement that blends:

Corporate participation (companies want visibility and a way to give back)
Public involvement (it’s family-friendly, photogenic, and educational)
Nonprofit impact (direct food donations in large volume)
Media and social buzz (ideal for news stories, social shares, and community pride)

That’s why this model is growing. From Virginia to Vancouver, Canstruction events have popped up across North America. And more cities — schools, offices, even faith communities — are replicating the model at smaller scales.

The blueprint is proven. All it needs is committed people.

Why Nutrition Matters in Every Can

Not all food donations are equal.

That’s why the Foodbank focuses on nutritious food, not just calories. Every can used in Canstruction is carefully selected to ensure:

Low sodium
High protein
Whole grains
Vegetables and fruit packed in juice or water

In 2024, 78% of all food distributed by the Foodbank was considered nutritious, and Canstruction helps support that standard. It’s not just about quantity. It’s about health, dignity, and long-term well-being.

A Can of Food Can’t Do It Alone — But You Can

Hunger isn’t about food. It’s about access. It’s about community. It’s about asking: “What are we willing to do for each other?”

Canstruction is proof that community engagement activities don’t have to be boring, difficult, or limited to fundraisers and flyers. It can be creative, impactful, and yes — even fun.

So we’ll leave you with this:

If a can of food can build a sculpture, feed a family, and bring a city together, what could happen if you joined in?

Contact us now to be part of Canstruction 2025, volunteer with us, or explore other ways to engage with your community. We’re ready when you are.

Categories : General