In the United States, more than 34 million people are food insecure. The pandemic has increased food insecurity among families with children and communities of color, who already faced hunger at much higher rates before the pandemic. In Colorado, 9% of Larimer County residents live at or below the Federal Poverty guideline; 38,040 Larimer County residents are food insecure; 8.4% of seniors are food insecure, and 21.6% of single mothers live in poverty.

These statistics alone prove that we often underestimate how widespread and serious the issue of hunger is. Cans Around the Oval is a Colorado State University tradition that brings students, faculty, and staff together in collaboration with members of the community, the media, and local businesses to spread awareness about the facts surrounding the issue of hunger, as well as raise cans and money donations. This event is Larimer County’s largest single-day food drive.

Rocky and other nearby schools annually contribute cans to CSU’s larger Cans Around the Oval project. All monetary donations and cans are given to the Larimer County Food Bank, which provides assistance to those who are suffering from hunger. Rocky calls this “Cans Around the ‘Boval” and it is just one of the major projects in which Rocky participates. In addition to the community competition, the business department, which organizes this fundraiser, includes a homeroom competitive element to make it even more exciting. Every grade level competes to be among the top three classes that donate the most money and cans. All homeroom classes use boxes to collect the cans. The class with the most cans wins a prize of either donuts or pizza.

All local schools compete against one another by attempting to raise the most money and cans.

Cans Around the ‘Boval began on October 1st and goes until the 7th. Students who wish to contribute are asked to bring $3 cash and 3 cans to help meet the donation goal. For every $1 donated, the Food Bank will provide $5 worth of food. Time is ticking and there are only a few more days left to step it up. Let’s show the community who we are and win this again, ‘Bos!