TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University students helped fight hunger one castle at a time during this year’s Can-less Castle Contest.

On Wednesday, the Office of Civic Engagement held its 15th annual Can-less Castle Building Contest. During the competition, students built their best “castle” with non-perishable food donations.

Students raced to build the best can-less castle using products like boxed macaroni, applesauce, crackers, and other non-perishable food. From sororities to fraternities to church groups, organizations competed for awards including Best Student Organization Castle, Best Greek Castle, and Most Items Collected.

“We all come together and this is one of our individual events,” said Sigma Chi member Gavin Plunkett. “Everybody all week has been bringing food to our Sigma Chi house and donating so we can come out here and have a good time.

“It was a good time, but it’s just good to give back.”

Every item donated will supply the Backpack for Kids program and the Trojan Pantry, which serve individuals both on campus and in the community.

“This event supports the Trojan Pantry, which is really special to us Alpha Gam,” said Elle Caroline Blackmon, Alpha Gamma Delta member “We do partnership, especially each semester, with Trojan Pantry and getting to participate in Can-less Castle through Greek Week as well as during our normal, regular days is super special to us.”

While judges tallied scores, participants reflected on what their favorite part of the event was.

“I think I enjoyed hanging out with my sisters and my friends. It was so much fun, and it was kind of cool to see all the different designs we came up with because we didn’t initially have a super strong plan, but we came up with something super cool,” Phi Mu member Greyce Godbehere said.

“It was cool to see how many items my organization brought.”

“My favorite part of this competition is just seeing every organization coming out and donating all these item,” Civic Engagement Program Advisor Tori Elmore told TrojanVision. “I feel like every year the list just grows more and more, and the donation amount grows more and more, and it just helps our community so much more than we can even imagine.”

“I enjoyed just coming together with some of my brothers and just having a good time,” Sigma Chi member Gavin Plunkett said. “You don’t get to do this very often, and the fact that it also supports a good cause is what really means a lot as well.”

“With our philanthropy being fighting hunger and ending food insecurity, this was a super, super great way to put our philanthropy into action through Greek Week,” Blackmon said.

Over 12,000 items were collected. Phi Mu took home Best Greek Castle and Most Items Collected, with over 3,000 food items, while the Christian Student Center was awarded the Best Organization Castle.