It took millions of years to create the majestic Rocky Mountains that we see to the west but some members of the Airdrie Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) did it in only hours yesterday (September 26) and helped the Airdrie Food Bank feed many hungry people at the same time.  

As part of the Food Bank's Thanksgiving food drive that took place at grocery stores around Airdrie, the young volunteers were at Superstore accepting donations as well as building materials for a special project, which, in fact, were both kind of the same thing.

"We're part of a greater YVC project that's happening across North America," explains Jason Heer the Program Director for the Airdrie Youth Volunteer Corps.  "It's called our can-struction project so this is our first project being involved.  I believe we're up against 40 plus other groups from throughout North America."

The project involved collecting canned food and creating a sculpture out of it.  Once the creation comes down, all of the food is donated to the Airdrie Food Bank.  

Heer says the Airdrie YVC members came up with a very western Canadian theme for their work of art.  "The youth have come up with this great plan to make it very authentic and Canadian.  We're one of three Canadian groups as part of YVC."  The Airdrie youth created a diorama of the mountains, complete with some Canadian wildlife like moose and Canada geese thrown in for effect,  from the approximately 820 cans that were collected.   As well, or every 300 cans collected, the Youth Volunteer Corps headquarters will donate 50 cents towards community projects.

Heer says the project had two goals, and he believes both of them were met.  "We're really hoping that this project will not only bring awareness about  YVC but our ultimate goal is about helping our community and really bringing awareness to what the need is, especially with the Food Bank at this time."

Maddie, one of the Airdrie YVC who took part in the can-struction project added her perspective on why they were there.  "We're just trying to help the Food Bank and it's kind of fun doing these little assignments and kinds of things around our community.  It's really good to just help people a lot."

Heer says their first time doing a project of this nature has been a great experience.  "We're very excited and the youth have been doing just an amazing job.  They have put together an amazing concept and idea and we're super excited about the results, which we'll find out in about three weeks' time."

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