Cans Around the Oval, Largest Food Drive in Northern Colorado, Raises a Record-Breaking 84,000 Pounds of Food

Colorado State University’s 17th annual Cans Around the Oval food drive today raised close to 84,000 pounds of nonperishable food for the Food Bank for Larimer County. By late this afternoon, organizers had weighed a record-breaking 83,733 pounds of donated food. Volunteers will work through the coming week to weigh remaining donations.

Cans Around the Oval is the largest food drive in Northern Colorado. Colorado State students, faculty and staff as well as local schools and community groups collected canned and durable foodstuffs for donation. Colorado State University President Larry Penley and honorary chair Thomas Sutherland placed the first cans along the Oval at 10 a.m. this morning.

Students, faculty and staff canvassed neighborhoods, held talent shows, car washes, dinner-date auctions and dances to raise cans.

Last year, more than 60,000 pounds of food were donated for the hungry in Larimer County. This year, the 84,000 pounds of donated food was enough to circle the Oval 42 times.

The Food Bank serves more than 40,000 Larimer County residents a year. These residents include single-parent families, the working poor, senior citizens, youth in crisis, the disabled and the homeless. Nearly half of those served are children.

Sponsors for the event included King Soopers, Greek Life and Spoons.

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