There was excitement in the air this year as 12 amazing teams let their creativity shine in the AIANN 19th annual Canstruction® event. The nine student teams worked hard alongside three professional teams as they stacked their way to teetering heights using cans of chili, spinach, roast beef hash, collard greens and more. A total of 25,704 pounds (24,000+ cans) of food were within the artistic displays at Meadowood Mall in Reno and provided a creative way to help bring awareness to growing food insecurities that families face in northern Nevada.

Teams had 12 hours to build their structures within the confines of a 10’x10’x10’ cube. With AIANN members and associate members either assisting teams or participating as teams, the event was a hugely successful collaboration between AIANN and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN). The structures stood for four days, and once they came down, food from the event was donated to FBNN. It equated to over 17,500 meals that will be distributed to hungry neighbors in our community.

The structures were judged and awarded in five different categories in addition to a People’s Choice award ($1 per vote) that capped off the event. Awards were given based on various factors related to how the teams used and assemble the cans. People’s Choice voting also resulted in an additional $1,566 from the Reno community, which will allow FBNN to purchase even more meals for those in need.

The AIANN committee members and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada are grateful to all who participated and were able to make this year’s event a success. Thanks to all of you!

This year’s winners:

• Most Cans: Slam Dunk Hunger 24/7!, Marce Herz Middle School
• Structural Ingenuity: Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, Mountain View Montessori School
• Best Meal: Bent on Hunger’s Destruction, The Brookfield 4 Musketeers
• Best Use of Labels: Obi Wan CANobi, Sky Ranch Middle School – Blue Team
• Best Original Design: Campbell’s & Community, AT&T Silver State Pioneers/VC Silver Circuits FTC #16158
• People’s Choice Award: Campbell’s & Community, AT&T Silver State Pioneers/VC Silver Circuits FTC #16158

Look for CANstruction in 2023; we hope to see you participating as part of a team or helping out a student team for the event. We want to encourage anyone to take on the challenge of building your own creative CANstructure to help fight hunger in the community. It’s a great experience and a fun way to be involved in our community.