Food Bank of South Jersey to Host Canstruction® Food Drive

Teams from Three SJ Corporations Will Compete to Build Structures Made Entirely from Full Cans of Food.

Pennsauken, NJ, September 16, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Employees from three South Jersey corporations will put their imaginations and architectural skills to the test, competing in a charitable event that requires them to build giant structures made out of full cans of food.

The unique competition is being hosted by the Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ) and will be staged at the Grand Court of Cherry Hill Mall, beginning September 18. The event is sanctioned by Canstruction®, a non-profit organization that has helped hunger-relief organizations like FBSJ raise 30 million pounds of food through its innovative twist on conducting food drives.

Participants in FBSJ’s Canstruction event include GREYHAWK, a construction management and consulting firm; Lammey & Giorgio, an architectural and planning firm, and Adams Rehmann & Heggan (ARH), a consulting design firm. The competing teams are responsible for purchasing the canned food they will use to build their structures. They will construct their designs on September 18-19, and their works will be judged on September 20.

The finished cansculptures® will remain on display through October 4. Mall shoppers will be able to select a “people’s choice” award by voting on FBSJ’s Facebook page; at the end of the event, all canned food will be donated by the teams to FBSJ for its distribution inventory.

“Canstruction will certainly provide a creative means to draw attention to the issue of food insecurity,” stated FBSJ CEO Val Traore. “We are hoping that thousands of residents will be able see these sculptures and are inspired to do their part, however big or small, to support our mission of feeding the 200,000 residents in South Jersey who need our assistance.”

Competing teams are required to build a structure that is a minimum of 10’ L x 10’W x 8’H, and it must be self-supporting: boards, plywood, tubing, or sheet metal are not permitted. Awards will be given in categories that include structural integrity, best use of labels, and juror’s favorite. The judging panel includes representatives from Lockheed Martin, Rowan University’s College of Engineering, Home Depot, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

In 2014, Canstruction® events across the world donated over 4.7 million pounds of food that served 3.9 million meals to needy families.

“The novel aspect of this event fits right in with our desire to provide customers with a wow shopping experience,” stated Lisa Wolstromer, Senior Marketing Director for Cherry Hill Mall. “We are pleased to host Canstruction and anticipate a great response and a great outcome for the food bank.”

About the Food Bank of South Jersey
The Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ) is the leader in providing safe and nutritional food to people in need throughout South Jersey. FBSJ distributes food, provides nutrition education and cooking courses, and helps food-insecure families and seniors find sustainable ways to improve their lives. In 2014, FBSJ provided 10.4 million pounds of food to nearly 200,000 South Jersey residents. FBSJ is a member of Feeding America, our nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. To learn more visit www.foodbanksj.org.

About Canstruction®
Canstruction® is a non-profit organization in which teams of architects, engineers, construction firms and students compete to create giant structures made entirely out of canned food. After the event all food is donated to the local food bank. Canstruction was founded in 1992 by the Society for Design Administrators and has since raised nearly 30 million pounds of food for local communities around the world. Canstruction is one of the largest internationally recognized food drives of its kind.

About Cherry Hill Mall
Cherry Hill Mall is owned, managed, and leased by PREIT, a real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership and management of differentiated retail shopping malls designed to fit the dynamic communities they serve. Founded in 1960 as Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, the Company owns and operates over 27 million square feet of space in properties in 12 states in the eastern half of the United States with concentration in the Mid-Atlantic region and Greater Philadelphia. PREIT is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol PEI. Information about the Company can be found at preit.com or on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Contact
Food Bank of South Jersey
Lou Martelli
856-662-4884
foodbanksj.org
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