File:NSF’s can-do approach to fighting hunger (14668170600).jpg

A bowling alley… a heavyweight belt… a candle… a beach scene… an erupting volcano… NSF’s new headquarters… the U.S. Capitol… an abstract. Creative types at the National Science Foundation constructed these model structures from cans of food collected as part of the agency’s participation in the Feds Feed Families (FFF) campaign. The federal agency-wide food drive seeks donations of nonperishable food and personal care items, and delivers them to the Capital Area Food Bank. In 2013, NSF donated more than 29,000 pounds of goods, and agency organizers hope to top that amount this year. The CAN-struction Challenge was one of numerous activities designed to boost excitement and donations. Volunteers from directorates and offices designed and built their structures out of food donations, and then NSF staff voted for their favorites. Winners were announced on July 31, 2014. Before the prize presentations, Peter Arzberger, senior science advisor in the Office of the Director, was joined on stage by guest speaker Karen Comfort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the 2014 Feds Feed Families program manager--USDA is the lead agency for the FFF campaign--and Gerri Ratliff, deputy director of the division of human resources management and NSF FFF campaign co-chair.

Credit: Katherine Otts, National Science Foundation