CANstruction Fundraiser Fills Food Bank Shelves in London

Builders and construction companies put their skills to the test with a unique material for The Salvation Army Community and Family Services in London.

Instead of wood and concrete, structures created from canned and packaged food took shape during CANstruction, a fundraiser for CFS London, in partnership with Michael + Clark Construction and White Oaks Mall. Seven companies built and engineered their designs using food that was then donated to the local Salvation Army Food Bank.

“We’ve seen a measurable increase in food bank visits by families and individuals. They are finding themselves having to choose between buying groceries or paying rent,” said Rebecca Thiessen, Integrated Missions Manager with The Salvation Army London Community and Family Services.

“It is challenging to come out of a pandemic in a healthy and successful way and we are doing our best to support these families so that they can thrive.”

The 30,000 cans of food used in the building were donated to the Food Bank to fill the shelves for those in need in London. A judging panel voted on award winners and the public could vote with a donation for the People’s Choice award for their favourite design, which raised $1,320.

The winning designs are:

• Judge’s Choice – “Team Matter – We Can Van” – Matter Architectural Studio Inc.
• Best Original Design – “Team Matter – The Can Van” – Matter Architectural Studio Inc.
• Best Use of Labels – “An Open Door” atLINK Architecture
• Best Meal – “We Can Solve It” Gray & Fick
• Structural Ingenuity – “Raising A Community” VanBoxmeer & Stranges Ltd. Structural Engineers
• Most Cans Used – “A Perspective of Hunger: HOPE” by Nicholson Sheffield Architects
• People’s Choice  – “Rubble the Pup” SBM Engineering

Steve Desjardine and the team from Gray & Fick Structural Engineering built a Rubik’s Cube from 4500 cans, 270 boxes of spaghetti and 50 egg noodle pouches.

“This food will go to the Centre of Hope to fill their shelves and that’s one of the areas that we focus on as a company as part of our core values. We are pleased to give back to The Salvation Army Food Bank,” Steve said.