People have an uncanny ability to make a difference when they put their minds to it, don’t they?

You ever wonder if it’s possible to help the hungry in Hampton Roads? Because you can, and it’s easy.

Can you feel the love tonight?

Someone… please… stop me before I go so far nobody will want to canoodle with me.

TCC Engineering Club's "CAN-A-Lot."

As I hope you’ve guessed by now, it’s all about the cans. This year’s Hampton Roads Canstruction Gala-Awards Ceremony and Reception will take place Thursday, November 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Selden Gallery. Admission is–you guessed it–one can of food.

But it’s not just about the cans. It’s what incredibly talented people can do with the cans. Here’s how it works, as stated by the organization:

Teams of architects, engineers, and students… compete to design and build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food. It takes 8-12 weeks and thousands of cans of food to create a structure. The results are displayed to the public as magnificent sculpture exhibits in each city where a competition is held.

Do a Google image search for ‘canstruction’ and you’ll get just a taste of some of the jaw-dropping, mouth watering things people can do with some common cans.

It’s not just about the fun and the art. Over 330,000 Hampton Roads residents access hunger relief programs supported by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Canstruction’s 13th Annual Hampton Roads Design/Build Competition -with help from Mark Hinckley as the hard-working, very enthusiastic event coordinator – puts a visual spotlight on hunger while showcasing the Hampton Roads design community’s best and brightest designing and building structures made entirely from canned foods.

All of the cans donated, and used, go straight to hungry people right in our area. It’s a real win/win (or can/can?). Preferred donations are tuna, canned dinners, chunky soups, peanut butter, fruit juices, tomato sauce, pasta, and canned veggies.

This year awards will be given in the following categories:
•    Best Meal
•    Best Use of Labels
•    Structural Ingenuity
•    Juror’s Favorite
•    2 Honorable Mentions

Now, I have an idea, and as I found out, I am not alone. Foodbanks do a tremendous job feeding the hungry and actually (thankfully!) have always managed to find some fresh produce to give away as well. A few have managed to give away a lot. But for the most part, they have what they are donated; processed foods — widely available, simple to transport and warehouse, and quick to fill empty stomachs.

Increasingly, though, food banks have been looking to agriculture. Since 2005, the California Association of Food Banks has struck deals with farms and packers across the state, where, on behalf of its members, it collects truckloads of fruits and vegetables that are too small, ripe or misshapen for supermarkets to sell. Fresh food offers a big, new food supply — and maybe, for the food banks themselves; a beneficial new role.

“There’s an almost unlimited supply of produce that’s not being adequately distributed,” says Vicki Escarra, the president of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), the national network of food banks. Last month she formed a fruits-and-vegetables task force and plans to bring in 25 percent more farm produce through national donors in the next fiscal year.

That is really innovative.

It would be nice to start a similar initiative in Hampton Roads, don’t you think? Maybe next year we have a “Fruitopia” or “vegisculptore” event, and feed the hungry a little bit healthier. In the meantime, the Foodbank and CANstruction are doing a swell job.