COLUMBUS, Ind. — Collin Pruitt would like to think that the odds ever will be in his team’s favor when people vote through Saturday for their favorite structure at Canstruction.
United Way of Bartholomew County’s event at FairOaks Mall in Columbus features local teams building a variety of creative structures from canned goods. In the past, that has included a facsimile of the White House created with beans, the Statue of Liberty from tuna, and the Golden Gate Bridge from carrots.
The cans used are later donated among local food banks at Love Chapel, Salvation Army and Community Center of Hope to help the hungry.
The eight-member Starving Artists team featuring Pruitt and his Columbus North High School senior project on Saturday built a design titled “Now Showing: Hunger Games.” The cinema-themed scene, constructed with 5,873 cans, shows a movie reel, a box of popcorn and a large drink.
Pruitt hopes the design will offer a bit of food for thought about the need to help local families make ends meet especially amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. He’s been volunteering with his family complete Canstruction builds since he was in first grade.
“I definitely remember helping out,” Pruitt said.
The student’s mom and teammate, Christy Pruitt, said she was proud of her son’s efforts that won Best Meal, Most Cans, and Best Structural Ingenuity awards from a judging panel.
“After 13 years in the competition, this one may just be my favorite,” she said.
Organizers hope to raise $21,000 from online votes at uwbarthco.org/canstruction-voting and 21,000 donated cans for onsite voting on favorite structures, according to organizers. Voting is permitted through Saturday.
The 12-member Columbus Sunrise Rotary squad won Best Use of Labels and Best Original Design with its entry “The Red Cardinal: A Sign of Comfort and Hope.” The six-hour build was the inspiration and original design of Bob Schwartkopf, whose talents have regularly shone at the event.
Frequently in the past, Schwartzkopf has proposed an idea or two and then the team discusses it.
“But this year, there was no doubt,” said Ginger McClellan, the local Sunrise Rotary Club president.
She explained that the red cardinal is known as a spiritual messenger or a sign of luck — and symbolizes combating difficulties with hope. Also, the cardinal is thought to appear in times of stress and despair to encourage hope and persistence to take wing.
McClellan added that the team will use its leftover sponsor money to buy about 1,000 additional cans to donate the cause in the form of votes. Sponsors range from businesses to individuals.
Hawcreek Hauling, a third team that originally was set to be a part of the event, did not get its cans in time for the build, but still will donate its nonperishables to the food banks.
