Hunger Coalition Recruiting Volunteer Teams for “Strike Out Hunger” Event

For the City Times
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The South Wood County Hunger Coalition is currently recruiting volunteer teams to build canned food sculptures for its Fifth Annual “Strike Out Hunger United We Can” event.
Construction for United We Can will be June 14, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Witter Field. Canned food sculptures will be on display during the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters game against the Green Bay Bullfrogs starting at 7:05 p.m. Afterwards, the sculptures will be taken down and the food will be distributed to local food programs. Since 2013, this event has collected over 25,000 pounds of food for local food programs, with hopes of collecting over 30,000 pounds this year.
Food sculptures will be judged and there will be awards for the “Most Creative,” and “Most Nutritious.” Game attendees will have a chance to vote on their favorite sculptures for the “Community Choice Award.” Each team will receive four complimentary tickets to the Rafter’s June 14th game.
In 2016, the winners were:
- Most Creative – Aspirus Riverview Hospital
- Most Nutritious – Ocean Spray
- Community Choice Award – ERCO Worldwide
Teams can build any kind of structure – it can be as simple as a logo or it can be ornate. The sculpture must fit in a 10’ x 10’ space; and props may be used but 50% must be comprised of canned food items. Canned food items can be collected from a food drive or purchased with a corporate donation.
“United We Can isn’t just a food sculpture contest; it is providing awareness about food insecurities that many in our community face,” said Emily Stieve, Community Impact Director for United Way of Inner Wisconsin.
To register your team for United We Can, contact Emily Stieve at 715-421-0390 or[email protected] by May 22, 2017. For more information visit www.uwiw.org.