COLUMBUS, Ind. — United Way of Bartholomew County’s annual CANstruction team build set for Feb. 26 at NexusPark has been canceled due to a pandemic-related shortage of canned goods needed to build the planned, creative structures.
But event organizers say the seven teams still will donate the cans that they have collected thus far to three local food banks: Love Chapel food pantry, Salvation Army and Community Center of Hope.
Organizers still are reminding the public that, though there will be no canned donations for votes for people’s favorite structures, the local food banks still need help at this post-holiday time of year — a time when they have long said that food and financial donations drop but the need for help for struggling residents is as severe as ever, especially amid the pandemic.
Plus, Kelly Daugherty, executive director of Love Chapel, has told event organizers that even canned donations to the food bank are down — another impact of supply-chain issues.
Most years, the event generates nearly 50,000 cans or more, divided among those social service agencies.
For the complete story, see Thursday’s Republic.
