\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The \u201cCanstruction for Northern New York\u201d initiative is back for a second year as a group activity to encourage students to team up and construct a fun, themed structure made of donated canned food and other nonperishable food items or hygiene products to support a local food pantry or backpack program of <\/span>their choice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Joining the competition is easy through an online registration at bit.ly\/RegisterCanstruction<\/b><\/a>. Teams must register to participate by Friday, Feb. 16<\/b>, and select the local food pantry or backpack program that will receive team donations.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe LEAD Council\u2019s Canstruction competition sparks enthusiasm and creativity among students while also addressing the crucial issue of food insecurity,\u201d LEAD Council Secretary Marc Piche said. \u201cThis competition should be adopted by every school district and student group as it not only instills a sense of social responsibility, but it also educates students about the real-world challenges our neighbors face. We are optimistic for this year\u2019s competition enrollment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Participating students will have a chance to support essential needs for local residents while learning the values of community philanthropy and building school spirit around a project that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Overall, the project aims to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in our communities. The initiative will empower students to collaborate and inspire their school and community to join in the effort.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Examples of canstruction projects may be found on the project web page at bit.ly\/CanstructionNNY<\/b><\/a>. Canstruction teams will compete for one of three chances to present a $500 grant to a nonprofit they care about most. A winning team will be named in the following three categories: \u201cTop Collection Award\u201d (most items donated\/collected), \u201cBest Design Award,\u201d and \u201cPeople\u2019s Choice Award\u201d (selected by an online vote).<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Last year, three top teams combined to collect 1,665 canned food and other nonperishable food items or hygiene products that helped restock two school-based backpack programs and a community food pantry. Winning teams shared $1,750 in grant awards that were presented to three different local nonprofit <\/span>organizations that participants selected.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Katie Blunden\u2019s General Brown High School<\/strong> statistics class was the \u201cPeople\u2019s Choice Award\u201d winner for \u201cThe Giving Tree.\u201d Ms. Blunden\u2019s class also won the \u201cTop Collection Award,\u201d with an impressive 914 nonperishable food items collected. The \u201cBest Design Award\u201d went to Stage Notes<\/strong> for its \u201ccanstruction\u201d of \u201cAn Evening at the Theatre.\u201d South Jefferson High School<\/strong> and its LEAD and Sources of Strength <\/span>students also entered a sculpture in the contest and earned a $250 grant it awarded to a nonprofit selected through a vote of the high school student body. The district\u2019s backpack program received the 323 food <\/span>items students collected.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Like last year, each winning team will award a $500 grant to their chosen federally classified <\/span>501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Contact Max DelSignore<\/b>, Community Foundation assistant director, at max@nnycf.or<\/a>g<\/b> for additional guidelines on nonprofit selection.<\/p>\n![\\\"\\\"](\\\"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LEAD-rainbow-e1705593330880-1024x704.jpg\\\")
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