Are you searching for ways to keep your kids entertained during March Break? Here are four fun activities you can do with your kids that also support The Food Bank of Waterloo Region!  

Check out the Canstruction structures at Conestoga Mall 

Canstruction Waterloo Region returns to Conestoga Mall during March Break, March 9 to 17. The week-long event—hosted by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and presented by Cohen Highley Lawyers— increases awareness about food insecurity in our community, raises food and funds in support of The Food Bank, and brings local businesses and community groups together to use their creativity to help build a future without hunger. 

This year, 14 teams are putting their talent and skills to the test, building awe-inspiring structures using more than 24,000 unopened food cans that get donated to The Food Bank. During March Break, visit the mall with your kids, view the structures, and donate to The Food Bank to vote for your kids’ favourite build. Every dollar donated can help provide two meals for someone facing hunger. The structure with the most votes wins the People’s Choice Award.  

While you’re viewing all the different structures, make sure your kids look out for stickers of Phil the Food Drive Bag—The Food Bank’s mascot—hidden in three of the structures. When they’ve found all three stickers, fill out a ballot at Centre Court for a chance to win one of four fabulous prizes: 

• $200 gift certificate for Eyeview Optical/Eyes on King 
• $100 gift card for Conestoga Mall 
• $100 gift card for Factory Shoe 
• $50 gift card for Sobeys and $50 gift card for Loblaws  

Host a food and fund drive 

Help your kids organize a bake sale, car wash, or another type of event in support of The Food Bank. The possibilities are endless! You can raise food, funds, or both. You can even run a one item food drive and collect only one type of food or run an online fundraiser where you just raise funds. Be sure to register your food and fund drive at thefoodbank.ca/ffd so we can provide you with boxes, bags, and posters paid for by our sponsors, as well as step-by-step instructions for setting up your own custom online donation page. 

Donate non-perishable food 

If you have room in your budget to buy some extra food, take your kids to the grocery store and have them pick out non-perishable food items to donate. Non-perishable food donations are always welcome and appreciated. These donations keep our shelves stocked and help us ensure that there’s safe, healthy, and nutritious food for the 1 in 10 households in Waterloo region struggling to afford to put food on the table. You can drop off a non-perishable food item to any grocery store or police, fire, or paramedic station in Kitchener-Waterloo or to our distribution centre located at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener. 

While we’re grateful for all food donations we receive, we would appreciate it immensely if you could donate foods that are on our most needed items list. This month, we need: 

• Canned vegetables 
• Pull-tab cans (soup, stew, canned meats) 
• Rice 

Volunteer at our March Break Youth Sorting Night 

Do you have teens in need of volunteer hours? Have them volunteer at our March Break Youth Sorting Night on Wednesday, March 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. While sorting through non-perishable food donations, your teen will make a difference in our community, learn more about our work, and earn high school volunteer hours. Visit our website to learn more and to sign up.

No gesture or action is too small. Which activity will you do with your kids to support The Food Bank over March Break?