Canstruction Orlando, an annual competition in which architects and engineers create giant structures out of canned and nonperishable foods, partnered with the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens to promote the theme "Zoo Can Do It" at a Sunday event to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. This is only the second time in the 16-year history of the event that organizers have created a theme, and this is the first time they have partnered with a community organization.
“It really created the sense of community. We are providing awareness about hunger, they are providing information about the zoo,” said event chair Deborah Rusnock. Rusnock also said that the whimsical theme resulted in designs that were appealing to the public, which serves the event’s purpose of engaging the community to address hunger. “Our displays create a natural public relations opportunity for the food bank leading into the busy holiday season,” she said. The competition at Orlando Fashion Square mall involved eight teams—three fewer than in 2009—creating animal-themed structures with more than 15,000 items that will be donated to the food bank.
The partnership began in August, when Canstruction board members created the zoo’s logo out of cans and put it on display at the zoo to make visitors aware of both the competition and hunger in Central Florida. On Sunday, eight teams (a total of about 65 people) worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the mall to assemble the eight- by eight-foot structures. The designs will remain on display through October 24 and then will be disassembled, with all of the items going to the food bank for distribution. The zoo also brought half a dozen animals to the competition to make the event more interactive for visitors. Participants collected about 20,000 pounds of food this year, down from a high of 54,000 in past years.
Throughout this week visitors can vote for one structure to win the People’s Choice Award. Organizers will randomly draw one ballot, and the voter will receive a gift package of zoo membership and T-shirts. A panel of judges will also select winning structures in six categories to advance to the international competition. Canstruction is a nonprofit foundation of the Society for Design Administration that holds competitions in more than 130 cities in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Worldwide, Canstruction events have brought in more than two million pounds of food for hunger relief this year.
