Emergency Canned Food Challenge

America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Network, is projecting an immediate food shortage of 15 million pounds (that's 11.7 million meals!) by the end of the year.

We're rallying you - America's teens - to raise 1 million cans by the New Year to help millions of Americans at risk of hunger during this holiday season. Last year 79 schools in 35 states participated in the 2006 Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive raising 1.3 million cans! Columbus High School of Iowa collected a total of 210,167 cans through incentives including putting the teachers on the roof of the school to raise more cans.

Stuff you need:

• Rules

How to register your cans:

On Facebook: The individual who raises the most total cans (own+friends) will get to choose a local food bank or pantry to receive a $500 donation from Do Something. (http://apps.facebook.com/cannedfooddrive/)

On the Do Something site: The school with the most cans will receive a $500 grant from Do Something to combat hunger in your local area. (http://www.dosomething.org/tipsheet/canned_food_drive_challenge)

Select your local food bank

Find a local food bank where you can drop off the collected food. Ask them if there is any particular type of food they need and make arrangements for when you can drop off your collected cans. Talk to them and make sure they can handle the cans you are raising.

Quick Ideas to raise more cans:

1. Set up empty boxes and place them all over the school for people to drop cans (make them fun with “Can Wanted Signs” or missing posters with cans on them.)
2. Have one station set up before and after school and during lunch hour.
3. Do a “Grade versus Grade” challenge, warning: freshmen usually win this in our experience.
4. Find a company to match the cans you raise (can’t count toward this competition but it fires people up)
5. Have the teachers promise to do something crazy (like crawl to work or sleep on the roof)
6. Charge 1 can admission at sporting events or school plays
7. More ideas

Rules

Participants may include money and other types of food raised in the following way:

• 1 can= One 16oz. can
• 1 can= 1 lb of food raised
• $1= 1 can

Do not include any matching can donations made by corporations as part of any other contest or agreement. Cans may be raised from companies (i.e. students at a shopping center, etc.)