Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading partnered with Performance Toyota to host the second annual YVC Canstructure event, a structure building competition to fight hunger, to Berks County. Teams of youth throughout Berks County, mentored by artists, architects, engineers, and contractors competed to build incredible designs made entirely from cans of food collected during youth food drives.
Building took place at the Berkshire Mall, where the structures will remain on display for one week. Following the competition, all canned food will be donated to the Greater Berks Food Bank. Last year’s contest engaged over 100 youth participants and resulted in 3.2 tons of food being donated to the Greater Berks Food Bank. This year’s larger event hosted over 170 youth.
Karen Linder, Performance Toyota Charitable Giving Coordinator, said, “We are proud to partner with Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading in their food drive for Canstructure and are excited to see the sculptures students create with the canned goods they collect. It’s a win-win community service project that fosters important skills in our youth and helps to fight hunger at the same time. How could we pass that up?”
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VOiCEup Berks, a fund of Berks County Community Foundation and an affiliate of Youth Volunteer Corps, is a local organization dedicated to connecting all sectors of Berks County to volunteer opportunities through service learning. Formed in 2015, VOiCEup is the collaborative effort of a group of experienced volunteers who are committed to the power of service. As an affiliate of Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC), VOiCEup engages youth ages 11-18 in meaningful community service.
