Bridgewater Commons Canstruction Will Turn 10,000 Cans Into Art For Somerset County Families

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Commons will host its first Canstruction competition from Sept. 15 through Sept. 22, turning 10,000 cans of food into large-scale sculptures before donating them to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.

The weeklong display, presented by Messer, will be set up in Center Court at the shopping center.

Guests will be able to view the structures and vote for their favorite design before the sculptures are taken apart and the canned goods, donated by Goya Foods, are provided to the county food bank.

The event is being held during Hunger Action Month and will include teams from Somerville-based SSP Architects, Branchburg-based Paramount Facility Management Solutions and Bridgewater-based Messer.

According to the announcement, the teams will use thousands of Goya products to create structures that will remain under wraps until the official reveal on Sept. 15. Winners are scheduled to be announced at a ceremony on Sept. 22.

"Bridgewater Commons has long been a place where our community comes together, and Canstruction® gives us an opportunity to turn that connection into meaningful impact," said Tom Kovacic, Marketing and Business Development Director of Bridgewater Commons. "What makes this event special is that 10,000 cans will first become something unexpected and inspiring for our guests to experience and ultimately, become meals for local families who need them. We’re grateful to Messer, Goya Foods, and each of our participating teams for helping us bring this to life."

Canstruction is a global nonprofit organization that stages competitions featuring structures made entirely from full cans of food, which are then donated to local food banks in the communities that host the events.

After the Bridgewater competition ends, the sculptures will be disassembled and the food will go to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.

The food bank network has responded to food insecurity in Somerset County since 1982 and now operates nine pantries in the county, along with programs including stuffed backpacks for children on weekends and school holidays.

The Food Bank noted that 10,000 cans can provide feed around 500 families for a month.

"Food insecurity remains a reality for many in our county. Canstruction is a way to alleviate some of that in a beautiful, fun way," said Steve Katz, Executive Director from Food Bank Network of Somerset County. "We are grateful for the support of the Bridgewater Commons team, and through them, Goya Foods and Messer."

The initiative will also include a satellite display at Seton Hall University’s Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute in South Orange, where Goya Foods will donate another 2,000 cans for a Hispanic Heritage-inspired sculpture benefiting the university’s local food bank.

More information is available at bridgewatercommons.com.