Hickory – Plans are already underway for Hickory’s Oktoberfest Celebration and the annual Castle of Cans. For the 21st year, a Castle of Cans will be built at the festival in Hickory, with food collected primarily from students in public and private schools around Catawba County.
Hickory Downtown Development Association sponsors the Castle of Cans as a community service component of the festival. The drive is coordinated each year by St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.
Jan Knotts, who was the volunteer coordinator of the drive for the past five years commented, “It has been so rewarding to see students enthusiastically and generously helping others in their community. They mostly make it fun in their schools, sometimes with competitions, but the end result is always a huge boost for area agencies helping hungry children and families.”
Last year over 10 tons of food was donated. Expectations for 2019 are to surpass that total in order to meet the needs of our community. Collected food is distributed to the following 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 more information on Oktoberfest 2019, applications and guidelines or sponsorship information, please call 828-322- 1121 or visit the website www.hickoryoktoberfest.com and click on vendor applications or email [email protected].
