ExtravaCANza sees New Orleans-themed canned good sculptures
The collected goods were donated to local charity Boca Helping Hands and FAU’s Beyond Food program.
Students collected cans for charity during the Homecoming week. Photo courtesy of Ashley Williams
October 20, 2017
Student organizations gathered Tuesday to collect cans for local charities and create “New OWLeans” themed sculptures as part of Homecoming week.
Eighteen organizations including Greek life and organizations such as the Asian Student Union and the International Friends Program participated in the competition.
The cans collected this year were donated to nonprofit organizations Boca Helping Hands and FAU’s Beyond Food, which temporarily provides canned goods to students in need. They will also be used as part of FAU’s Day of Service event, where students will package and send the goods to victims of disaster in the Caribbean and Florida Keys.
Students Advocating Volunteer Involvement and the FAU Weppner Center for LEAD and Service-Learning hosted the event.
“Honestly, my favorite part is the service aspect of it,” Director Trevor Davis said. “I think it’s a great way to get our members out there and understand service.”
David Hittner of Pi Kappa Phi said, “This event gives us a great way to unite as a Greek community.”
Hittner and his organization collected over 1,000 cans that they used to construct a model of Bourbon Street, the heart of New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood, to go with the New OWLeans Homecoming week theme.
The International Friends Program built a masquerade mask out of their cans, adorned with flags of the world to represent FAU’s diverse student body.
The program was recently registered as a student organization.
“This is actually our first year because we are a new organization,” program President Jacob Hidrowoh said.
He added that he’s certain the program will participate in the event next year as well.
Nick Brown, a member of Phi Delta Theta said, “I heard that it was for a good cause and might as well show face and support.”
Brown and his fraternity were paired with Sigma Kappa and made a Mardi Gras mask that spelled out, “New Owleans.”
The event was held in the Grand Palm Room in the Student Union.
Mackenzie Guiry is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected].
