Our first ever Canstruction West Valley is in the can. Not only did the teams have a great time building their structures, but they also helped raise a whole lot of food and money for the Pantry with over $25,000 being raised and more than 4,000 pounds being donated.

This year five local teams entered the race: Kol Tikvah, Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Encino Parents Nursery School, the Iaccino Family and, of course, we had to build our own structure. Each team did a food drive, used that food to build their own structure, and then donated the food to the Pantry. Following the build, community members voted for their favorite team, with every dollar donated counting as a vote. Daily social media updates kept the excitement going as supporters rallied behind their favorites.

Prince of Peace Episcopal Church took home the top honor, winning the People’s Choice Award. Additional awards recognized the creativity and teamwork of this year’s participants: Encino Parents Nursery School won Best Meal, Kol Tikvah earned Most Cans, West Valley Food Pantry received the Structural Integrity Award, and the Iaccino Family won Best Use of Labels.

Beyond the impressive sculptures and friendly rivalry, Canstruction demonstrated the power of community partnerships in addressing hunger. Every can represented an opportunity to support local neighbors, while the enthusiasm of participating teams, donors, voters, and volunteers helped bring the Pantry’s mission to life.

The West Valley Food Pantry extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, donated, voted, and supported Canstruction West Valley 2026. Together, our community turned creativity into compassion and competition into meaningful support for neighbors in need.