Hickory – The heart of community generosity – the Susan Coleman Castle of Cans – is back for the 27th year! This inspiring initiative, named for its first and longtime coordinator, transforms donations into hope, bringing together neighbors, schools, and local partners for a common cause. The castle at Hickory’s Oktoberfest was set up on Saturday, October 11th. Student volunteers from the honor society at Hickory Day School will assisted with building the 2025 castle of cans for Oktoberfest and cadets from the Maiden High School Air Force ROTC assisted with the deconstruction. Every can stacked is more than just a building block—it is a symbol of unity, compassion, and the determination to make a difference.
Who benefits? Since the food drive’s inception more than 343,000 pounds of food has been collected and has been distributed to the following local agencies: Ashure Ministry, The Corner Table of Newton, Exodus Homes, The Family Care Center, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministries, The Hickory Soup Kitchen, The Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Hickory, which supports 32 programs in Catawba County.
Food Lion has been generously backing the Castle campaign through its Food Lion Feeds program, contributing 5,000 pounds of food annually since 2014. Constructed from cans donated by Food Lion as well as contributions from nearby schools and the community, this project aims to raise awareness about food insecurity in our region.
To donate to the campaign visit: https://p2p.onecause.com/castleofcans2025/team/castle-of-cans-community-donations
