Hickory – There is still time to participate in the virtual Oktoberfest Castle of Cans 2022, the site will be up until October 31, 2022. Please visit the link and follow the easy instructions to make your contribution https://p2p.onecause.com/castleofcans2022
We know that the problem of hunger in Catawba County remains. While the need is still great, the cost of food has increased significantly, and we are still experiencing many supply-chain issues. Food Lion, a key campaign supporter, has opted to make a financial contribution as it has done for the past two years in lieu of pallets of cans. Knowing than in 2020 and 2021 we held a very successful virtual fundraising campaign to support the key eight agencies serving families in need in our community, this year we will continue to offer the fund drive option.
The first food drive and castle build took place in 1999. The idea to add the community service component to Oktoberfest came from architects Beemer Harrell and Marvin Folger. Susan Coleman, a Catawba County Schools’ educator and member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, began coordinating the food drive and did so for many years until her death in 2013. The event now carries her name. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church has continued to coordinate the food collection for Hickory’s Downtown Development Association. Since 2007, Castle of Cans has contributed 262,396 lbs. of food to eight local agencies – The Corner Table of Newton, Eastern Catawba County Cooperative Christian Ministries, Exodus Homes, The Family Care Center, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministries, The Hickory Soup Kitchen, The Salvation Army, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
For information about the Castle of Cans please contact Carleen Crawford at 828-781-0845 or Amy Ogle at 828-322-1121.
