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Kick Off United Way’s 2019 Campaign at the United We CAN Food Drive + Sculpture Contest

Kick off United Way’s 2019 Campaign at the United We CAN Food Drive + Sculpture Contest

Join us to kick off United Way of Greater Portland’s Annual Campaign with the United We CAN Food Drive + Sculpture Contest on Friday September 13, 2019. Teams will construct sculptures from 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. (spectators are welcome). Sculptures will be on display during the Annual Campaign Kickoff event in Monument Square from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Wayside Food Programs will distribute collected food to pantries throughout Cumberland County.

Confirmed Teams for 2019: (There’s still space for more companies. Sign Up Below!)

Avesta Housing
2 Dine In
Bank of America
CCB Construction Services
Dead River Company
Hannaford
IDEXX
Infinity FCU
Gorham Savings Bank
L.L.Bean
MaineHealth
Martin’s Point Health Care
MEMIC
People’s United Bank
RTS Packaging
Unum
Verrill Dana
WEX
Wright-Ryan Construction

CONSTRUCTION RULES

  1. Build any kind of structure — from the simple to the ornate!
  2. Teams may use props, including signage, and supporting materials when building, but structures must be comprised of at least 50% food items and/or basic needs items. A platform is suggested.
  3. Sculptures must fit within a 10’x10’ space unless otherwise requested.
  4. Collected items cannot be painted, taped, or otherwise altered in a way that makes them unsuitable for donation. You may cover food items with paper as long as it’s taped to itself and removed by your team after the event.
  5. Teams may construct sculptures between 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. on September 13. (It’s not necessary to be there the entire time.)
  6. A team from your organization is needed to clean up and load food from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
  7. Best practices tip! Track and share the following:
    • # of volunteers
    • # of materials used, e.g. cinder blocks, plywood, tape, etc.
    • # of items collected, e.g. 2,000 cans of tuna, 16 jars of peanut butter
    • Other fun facts (see Dead River Company’s list to the right)

Are you a business with a downtown storefront? Click here to learn about our window display contest.

MATERIALS

NEXT STEPS

  1. Register your team below or by emailing marketing@unitedwaygp.org.
  2. Gather your most creative team and design your entry.
  3. Let your employees know what food items and quantities you will need and do a “trial run.”
  4. Have a blast constructing your sculpture!

Are you interested in building a structure but don’t think that you have enough people for your own team? Let us know, we can match you up with others who are in the same boat.

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Need ideas on what to build?

Check out photos from past events: 2018, 2017, 2016 
 
Interested in renting a bus to transport your employees to the noon kickoff event?
Custom Coach and Limo is graciously offering to provide a discounted rate of $225 for companies interested in renting a school bus (two discounts for company). The buses are first come first serve and prices will vary for other types of coach rentals. Contact Cameron Isherwood at Cameron@customcoachandlimo.com or (207) 797-9100 for reservations.

AWARDS

We know you’re not doing this for the glory, but this is hard work! We’ll celebrate with a few awards.
Small + Mighty Award: Judges will select the best sculpture CANstructed by a small business (employee size up to 99).
Rookie Award: Judges will select the best sculpture assembled by a new team (1st or 2nd year).
Best Meal Award: Judges will review sculptures for ingredients which would make the best well balanced, healthy meal.
Best in Show: Judges will select the best in show based on the design (originality and creativity), craft (balance, proportions, detail, and use of space), and amount of food collected.
Community Choice Award: Attendees will cast electronic votes between 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
NOTE: Organizations are eligible for only one award (with the exception of Community Choice Award).
 
For information on how you can get involved, contact Ken Holmes.