Building for a Cause: Youth Canstructure Contest Combats Hunger in Berks County

From VOiCEup Berks

Pictured above: Two of the 2024 YVC Canstructure winning creations by Wilson West Middle School and Reading Northwest Middle School student teams.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) of Reading is teaming up with Performance Toyota to bring the annual YVC Canstructure Contest to Berks County this spring. This exciting structure-building competition not only showcases the creativity and teamwork of local youth but also supports the fight against hunger.

Throughout the coming weeks, teams of young participants from across Berks County will collect canned food donations to use as building materials for their Canstructure creations. On Saturday, March 29, teams will submit videos of their completed designs to be showcased online at www.yvc-canstructure.org. Once the contest concludes, all canned goods will be donated to Helping Harvest Food Bank, ensuring that families in need receive much-needed food assistance. Over the past seven years, the YVC Canstructure Contest has engaged nearly 200 young volunteers annually and resulted in the donation of over 50 tons of food to the community.

Expanding impact through community collaboration

This year, the Canstructure Contest is expanding its reach with additional support from Penn State Berks Engineering Department. Engineering Ahead, a summer bridge program for incoming Penn State freshmen, is spearheading the fourth annual PSU Canstructure Open House on Friday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This interactive event will provide first-year engineering students the opportunity to mentor Canstructure teams, guiding them through activities focused on structure-building, communication, and creative problem-solving. As part of the initiative, Engineering Ahead students will construct their own Canstructure on campus, serving as an inspiration for participants.

“Our goal is to show young people that engineering, creativity, and service can go hand in hand,” said Dr. Ryan Hassler, Director of Engineering Ahead at Penn State Berks. “By mentoring Canstructure teams, our students are learning valuable leadership skills while helping local youth make a real impact in their community.”

A tradition of service and youth engagement

The Canstructure Contest is just one of many initiatives led by YVC of Reading, which is hosted by VOiCEup Berks. Dedicated to fostering a lifelong commitment to service, YVC of Reading provides volunteer opportunities for youth ages 11 to 18 throughout the year. Since the founding of VOiCEup Berks in 2016, YVC of Reading has engaged more than 3,000 young people in over 46,000 hours of service, strengthening the local community through volunteerism.

“We are proud to see this event grow each year, bringing together youth, businesses, and educational institutions to make a difference,” said Lisa Panczner, STEM Program Coordinator of YVC of Reading. “Canstructure isn’t just about building impressive designs—it’s about building a stronger, more connected community.”

For more information about the YVC Canstructure Contest or to get involved, visit www.voiceupberks.org/yvc or email info@voiceupberks.org. VOiCEup Berks is a fund of the Berks County Community Foundation.

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Source: bctv