‘It helps stock all of our shelves’: QND holds annual Canstruction Competition

QUINCY (WGEM) - Students at Quincy Notre Dame (QND) are learning the importance of giving back to those in need, while also having a little fun.

On Nov. 10, students took on the challenge of building something out of canned and boxed goods in QND’s fifth annual Canstruction Competition. Students built a variety of designs including a football field, a golf course, an angel and a crown.

The canned and boxed goods used in the competition were purchased as part of a food drive.

Mike Young, QND’s director of Campus Ministry and House, said QND has done a fall food drive for many years. For the last five years, he said the Canstruction has become part of that food drive.

“It’s just a way to kind of add a little fun spin to the idea of a food drive, which is the main point of what we’re doing, the building the structures and all that’s fun, but it’s not the main purpose,” Young said. “The main purpose is to help Quincy Catholic Charities out and to help refill their food pantry.”

All of the food used in the Canstruction goes to Quincy Catholic Charities.

“It helps stock all of our shelves. So, all of our clients that are coming in monthly are able to get those different items,” said Kevin Williams, area director of Quincy Catholic Charities. “And, you look around, it’s quality items. You’ve got fruit, you’ve got meals you can put together. There’s pasta there. So it’s typical stuff that everyday people are going to use on an everyday basis.”

The money used to purchase the food was collected over the last several weeks from students looking to enjoy a non-dress code day and support a local organization. Young said QND collected about $7,700 and around $7,000 of that was used to purchase food items. He said the rest of the money will be given to Quincy Catholic Charities as a check.

An event like the Canstruction means QND students get to see exactly what their money was used for. While it is a fun event, Williams hopes it also teaches the students compassion.

“We’re looking at the future generation with these students here,” Williams said. “So we want to build that character and that kindness and compassion for the community because you never know who’s going to be in a situation when you need it. You might need it someday. You know, a friend, a brother, may need it at some point in time. So it’s all about kindness, compassion and caring.”

For QND senior Dawson Stafford, this is the third year he’s competed in the Canstruction and the experience will stick with him for years to come.

“I think it’s going to help me later in life, knowing that something like this is easy and it helps out more than you can ever know, especially to the people that the food is getting donated to,” Stafford said.