Colorado State University’s Cans Around the Oval Celebrates 25 Years Oct. 12

Colorado State University’s Cans Around the Oval will kick-off its 25th year at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 on the university’s historic Oval. Cans Around the Oval holds the title as Larimer County’s largest one-day food drive.

All collected food and monetary donations benefit The Food Bank for Larimer County. Last year alone, Cans Around the Oval was able to donate over 66,000 pounds of food and $39,000.

Cans Around the Oval is hosted by the Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement office at CSU. The SLiCE office’s mission is to maximize student potential through high quality, innovative programs and services. Cans Around the Oval is not just meant for CSU students to come out and make a difference, but also calls for members of Fort Collins and Larimer County to participate. ‘Cans’ urges all levels of the community to take part and create relationships between students, business members, and residents while at the same time helping the community.

Hunger is often viewed as an issue plaguing third world countries, however, it is also a very real problem right here in Colorado. One in five children in Larimer County, do not have enough food to meet their nutritional needs, according to The Food Bank for Larimer County. With over 30,000 clients served by the Food Bank in 2010, Cans Around the Oval plays an important role in feeding the community throughout the year.

Cans Around the Oval encourages businesses, community groups, organizations, and residents to register online at www.slice.colostate.edu. Registered groups host their own food drives until collection day, October 12th, where donations are received and counted on The Oval at CSU and recognition is given to top donors and collectors.

Community members can donate directly to the Larimer County Food Bank or the SLiCE office up until donation day. On Oct. 12, SLiCE asks that donations be brought directly to the Oval at CSU. Any donations after Oct. 12 can be made to the Larimer County Food Bank.

For more information about Cans Around the Oval visit the SLiCE website www.slice.colostate.edu or contact program coordinator Brett Rundle at 970-491-3579.

Colorado State University’s Denver Alumni Effort

With the demand at food banks rising this year, Colorado State University’s Cans Around Denver, in conjunction with Cans Around the Oval, is a community service project in support of Food Bank of the Rockies.

CSU is encouraging alumni in Denver to show their support for those in need. During the month of October, companies can host a Cans Around Denver food drive at their business. Property managers can supply their own bins or can request CSU Cans Around Denver boxes to have in their lobbies.

CSU is accepting food or non-perishable donations during the month of October at the CSU Denver Center, 475 17th Street (corner or 17th and Glenarm), Suite 100, Denver.

The event will wrap up with a final collection during a CSU Hometown Huddle Football Watch Party on October 29 at 4 p.m. The Huddles and food collection will be located at CB Potts, 6575 S. Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village and Whiskey Bar, 2203 Larimer St., Denver.

Food Bank of the Rockies was founded in 1978 and extends its reach across Northern Colorado and Wyoming, providing food supplies to more than 1,100 hunger-relief programs. In its first 30 years, FBR has provided nearly 392 million pounds of food to our member agencies, which translates to more than 306 million meals for people in need. In 2010, FBR distributed 35.7 million pounds of food, enough to provide 76,000 meals each day to children, seniors and families in need.

For more information about Cans Around Denver, contact Tiana Nelson at (303) 376-2613 or Christiana.Nelson@colostate.edu.

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