What is Canstruction for Northern New York?
Canstruction for Northern New York is a group leadership activity to encourage students to team up and construct a fun, themed structure of donated canned food and other nonperishable food items or hygiene products to support a local food pantry or backpack program of your choice!
The Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council invited K-12 and college students and organized student groups in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to participate in a creative and impactful project to help reduce food insecurity across the North Country.
Why is Canstruction important?
- It supports local residents with essential needs.
- It instills philanthropic values in students who want to give back.
- It builds school spirit around a difference-making project.
- Students compete to win grant awards for another nonprofit they care about.
Winner’s Circle
Below are the winning entries for the 2026 Canstruction for Northern New York competition:
Competition awards
Three $500 grants will be awarded to winners in the following categories:
- Top Collection Award (most items donated/collected) — Carthage Middle School’s Builders Club & Student Government — Grant will support the “Comet Cares” Backpack program at Carthage Central School.
- Best Design Award — Watertown High School Student Council — Grant will support the Watertown City School District Backpack Program.
- People’s Choice Award (Online vote) — Carthage Middle School’s Builders Club & Student Government — Grant will support the “Comet Cares” Backpack program at Carthage Central School.
Competition participants
Five teams participated in this year’s Canstruction initiative. All canned goods and other nonperishable food and hygiene items will be donated to local food pantries or backpack programs. Participants were:
| Organization | Grades / ages | Club or class | Food pantry or backpack program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver River High School | Grade 9 | Earth science class | Beaver River Backpack Program |
| Carthage Central School | Grades five to eight | Student Government / Builders Club | Carthage Backpack Program |
| First Presbyterian Church of Watertown | All school ages | Church Youth Group | Watertown Urban Mission |
| South Jefferson High School | Grades nine through 12 | Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) | South Jefferson Backpack program |
| Watertown High School | Grades nine through 12 | Student Council and National Honor Society Chapter | Watertown CSD Backpack Program |
About this year’s competition
Click here to read a news release about this year’s winners and participating teams.