C.A.N.S. Around the Oval, CSU’s annual drive to collect non-perishable food and raise monetary donations for the Food Bank for Larimer County, began this month and concludes on Oct. 16.
Members of the community are encouraged to join the Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLiCE) office and “CANtribute” to this campus tradition, which is more than three decades old.
C.A.N.S. Around the Oval involves students, faculty and staff — along with local neighbors, schools and community organizations — to raise awareness about hunger and CANtribute where possible. It started as a canned food drive, and now C.A.N.S Around the Oval has evolved into a fund/food drive asking donors for “cash and nutritious staples” (C.A.N.S.). Further, it encourages people to participate in both new and traditional ways to enhance the quality and quantity of “CANtributions” and better meet today’s community needs. This year’s campaign goals are raising $65,000 and collecting 35,000 pounds of food.
SLiCE suggests many different ways to CANtribute this year, including:
- Canvassing at grocery stores and in neighborhoods
- Conducting mini-fund/food drives
- Coordinating a “penny wars” fundraiser
- Contending in the friendly competition
- Donating cash and coins OR online ($1 = two meals)
- Giving nutritious and non-perishable food items
- Learning about the importance of C.A.N.S. Around the Oval on campus and throughout Larimer County
- Partnering with local businesses
- Utilizing social media
- Volunteering with SLiCE on Oct. 16 and/or the FBLC at its future events
For those interested in competing against fellow businesses, colleges, departments, organizations, residence halls, schools and/or student groups, a new point system has been developed with the following formula:
- 2 points = per pound of food donated
- 5 points = per dollar donated
- 50 points = to each team competing against another for an internal competition
- 100 points = for any person volunteering on behalf of a team with SLiCE on Oct. 16
The drive kicked off on Sept. 16, and during the Oct. 16 collection day, in-person donations will be accepted on the Oval from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with online donations accepted until 5 p.m.
To learn more about this year’s changes, dates, and ways to CANtribute, or to register as a future participant, volunteer, or both, visit cans.colostate.edu. Community members are also encouraged to promote the event throughout their own communities and programs, using electronic marketing materials available online.
