NILES, Ohio – With a creative and nostalgic design, Gateways to Better Living took home Most Cans Used and Best Overall Design in this year’s Canstruction competition at Eastwood Mall.
The competition, where teams build structures out of canned goods, was held Friday and Saturday at Eastwood Mall. The event benefits Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, and this year’s theme was Games: Win The Battle Against Hunger.
“We are simply overwhelmed with gratitude and can’t believe we won,” said Kristie Murphy, community engagement director at Gateways to Better Living. “This project was not only a blast to work on, but it also allowed us to give back to the community in a meaningful way.”
Gateway’s creation was a giant Etch A Sketch featuring Pac-Man on its screen.
Other teams that participated in this year’s event include Pizza Joe’s/Classi-Co Foods, Senior Care Insurance, Second Harvest Food Bank, Oh Wow! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology, Cafaro Co., Youngstown State University’s Sokolov Honors College, Country Kids and Critters 4-H, John F. Kennedy Catholic School and Daniel Haggerty.
The Canstruction displays will remain on view at Eastwood Mall’s center concourse through Aug. 25. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and view the structures. The canned items used to create the structures will then be donated to Second Harvest.
“All the canned goods used in the displays will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank at the end of the summer,” Murphy said. “So while we’re proud of the awards, the real win is helping families in need across our region.”
Pictured at top: Gateways to Better Living’s winning structure in the Canstruction competition.