Patrick Mahomes is yet again challenging youth around the globe to “Volunteer for 15!" To complete this challenge, youth must first sign a pledge and then complete 15 hours of service with YVC between May 1st - August 31st! Youth with the highest number of volunteer hours between May 1st - August 31st will receive an autographed item from Patrick Mahomes and one lucky volunteer will receive two tickets to the home game of their choice, airfare for two, and a two-night hotel stay in Kansas City!

YVCHR's 12th-Annual Canstructure Competition

Calling all students! YVCHR is recruiting teams from grades K-12 to participate in our annual Canstructure Competition, a STEM-inspired, team-based challenge that provides thousands of meals to local families experiencing food insecurity. Each year, this event activates youth from across our community to help address the issue of hunger while also providing an outlet for creativity and friendly competition.

• What is a CANstructure? A canstructure is a unique work of art that is created by collecting hundreds of canned food items, which are then used to design and build a 3-dimensional structure that relates to this year’s theme-- End Hunger: Game On!

• How do teams compete? Teams meet after school or during a flex period over several weeks (with a team sponsor) to plan and brainstorm their canstructure design and to determine their strategy for collecting canned food donations. Teams may conduct food drives, solicit donations from local businesses or raise funds to purchase the cans needed to build their structure. Once the team has acquired their “building materials,” they will sort, wrap and carefully stack the cans to create their canstructure either at their school (grades K-5) or at Patrick Henry Mall (grades 6-12).
• NEW THIS YEAR! All elementary teams will build their canstructure at their respective school site. Cantructures must be completed by Monday, April 17th. YVCHR staff will coordinate a time/date to visit each school to record each team's presentation. Winners will be announced at Center Court at Patrick Henry Mall on 4/29 during the awards ceremony.
• All middle and high school teams will gather on Saturday, April 29th to build their canstructures in designated work sites at Patrick Henry Mall. We are excited to revive the traditional format for this competition so that students' hard work and creativity will be displayed for the community to appreciate!

• How are winners determined? The judging panel will consist of a variety of professionals from different sectors who will evaluate each team’s presentation and canstructure using the provided rubric. Scores will be tallied based on the points awarded for each category. Winning teams at each level (elementary, middle and high) will receive trophies…but best of all, tens of thousands of pounds of food will be donated to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank!

• Want more info? Click the button below for registration information, competition rules, and judging criteria. All registered teams will receive a detailed toolkit. Questions? Contact Anna Crippen or call 757-223-7078.

• Interested in event sponsorship? Click here for a list of sponsorship benefits!

The Don and Jean Sloan Youth Service Scholarship is offered annually by Youth Volunteer Corps Headquarters and is open to active volunteers from across the YVC network.