Colorado State University’s Cans Around the Oval Aims to Collect More Than 60,000 Pounds of Food

Organizers of Cans Around the Oval, a Colorado State University tradition since 1987, seek to collect more than 60,000 pounds of food and $50,000 in donations this year.

Colorado State’s 27th annual Cans Around the Oval will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, on the historic CSU Oval in Fort Collins. The event is sponsored by CSU’s Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLiCE) office.

As the largest one-day food drive in northern Colorado, Cans Around the Oval works with the Food Bank for Larimer County to raise food and monetary donations to help those in need in the community.

“Cans Around the Oval is one of the most important events here at CSU. Seeing our community come together in support of the Larimer Food Bank is an incredible feeling,” said Kristy Aldridge, a student coordinator for the event.

Last year’s students, faculty and staff and community members collected 52,188 pounds of food and $37,661 in donations.

Cans Around the Oval helps more than 40,000 people who depend on the Food Bank for Larimer County. The donations from this one collection day can help these individuals for up to four months.

The four-week food drive begins on Sept. 12 and concludes on Oct. 16, when all of the donated food will be weighed. This is a community effort and in addition to campus participants, local businesses and volunteer groups around Fort Collins will also participate.

For more information about Cans Around the Oval, visit http://www.slice.colostate.edu/cans-around-the-oval.aspx or contact Jenn Rieskamp at (970) 491-5488.

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