UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-- Explore the intersection of student food security and art at the Lion’s Pantry’s upcoming Canstruction event.

The exhibit will feature student-made structures built entirely from packaged food, which will then be donated to the Lion’s Pantry to help stock its shelves for students who experience food insecurity. This year’s theme is "Children’s Story Books."

The program will highlight the impact of the Lion’s Pantry at the University Park campus while bringing important awareness to the topic of food insecurity and how the Penn State community can join together to support the critical efforts to eradicate hunger.

Structures created by students in the following organizations will be on display between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on April 11 and 12 in 131 HUB-Robeson Center:

• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
• Schreyer Student Council
• The Lion’s Pantry

A special Canstruction program, featuring a reception with free food and door prizes including gift cards to local restaurants, Penn State gear, and more, will be held at 6 p.m. April 11, in the Flex Theater in the HUB-Robeson Center.

Students, staff and community members are encouraged to visit the event and vote for their favorite structure. The most popular structure will win the People’s Choice Award.

The students of the Lion’s Pantry said they look forward to sharing this event with the Penn State community.

“I'm looking forward to emphasizing the necessity of collaboration during my presidency,” said Taylor Dorsett, incoming Lion’s Pantry president. “It's crucial that we as a university come together to better serve our students. In doing this, we shed light on a very prevalent issue of food insecurity at Penn State, and work towards reducing stigma simultaneously."

Since 2014, the Lion’s Pantry has met a critical need amongst Penn State students, while bringing awareness to the topic of student food insecurity.

“My hope is that the pantry will allow students to focus on their education, not where their next meal will come from,” said Lion’s Pantry cofounder Jake Ruddy.  

To support the Lion’s Pantry, event attendees can donate non-perishable food items during the reception and open event hours in 131 HUB. A list of the most needed items and more information about the pantry can be found on the Lion’s Pantry website. Those who cannot attend the event and wish to donate can visit the website for alternate ways to give.

Support for food security will advance "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by serving communities and fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

Students who are facing financial challenges and other basic needs can find resources through the Student Affairs website.