Photo/Renee Cordes
Best in Show: MaineHealth, for this interpretation of Hadlock Field.
Updated: September 17, 2019
United Way food-drive campaign off to a strong start
Photo/Renee Cordes
Liz Cotter Schlax, United Way of Greater Portland president, addresses the crowd of volunteers and onlookers in Portland's Monument Square.
From Hadlock Field in miniature to the Hannaford To Go Logo in 3-D, sculptures made out of canned goods filled Portland’s Monument Square on Friday for United Way of Greater Portland’s annual fundraising campaign.
In keeping with a four-year tradition, the nonprofit kicked off its annual campaign with the United we CAN Food Drive and sculpture contest that saw 19 teams come up with creative designs and generous donations.
“It’s a great cause, it’s a fun event, the sculptures are really visually interesting, and it gives company members a chance to really tout their brand, and potentially build something connected to their brand," said Liz Cotter Schlax, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Portland and a 2019 Mainebiz Woman to Watch. "It’s fun!”
That was clearly in evidence as the MaineHealth team put the finishing touches on their interpretation of Hadlock Field, complete with an advertising wall and a few toy Portland Sea Dogs players on the field.
Standing behind the completed sculpture, team member Cheryl Ouellette said the toughest part of planning the sculpture was not knowing what food drive donations would come in and said the group took about eight hours to practice for what she said was an “awesome” result.
The hard work paid off, and MaineHealth won the “Best in Show” prize.
It was one of six prizes awarded at the event, after which the sculptures were immediately disassembled so that the food packages could be collected and distributed by Wayside Food Programs to pantries throughout Cumberland County.
Even teams that didn't win prizes were having fun, like Unum with its Lobster Shack crafted from Barilla spaghetti boxes and decorated with buoys made out of toilet-paper rolls, and the Hannaford team that built a three-dimensional version of its Hannaford To Go logo.
Don Taylor, Hannaford's marketing campaign manager for customer loyalty and co-chair of the company's United Way 2019 campaign, said the design team started its work eight to 12 weeks before the event, and that the sculpture was crafted from over 4,700 cans.
"This is a big event for public awareness of United Way, and an opportunity for us to be creative, get employees engaged and show how committed we are to United Way" and donating food to those in need, he said.
Impressed with all of this year's creations, Taylor said: "The level the creativity is at an all-time high and shows how engaged community members are."
26,000 meals collected so far
On Monday, a United Way spokesperson told Mainebiz that more than 26,000 meals have been collected from the event — reported in those terms instead of can numbers “because it speaks to the impact those cans make for our community.”
This marked the fourth time United Way of Greater Portland put on the event, which also included window displays in local stores and donations from companies that unable to participate Friday. Their contributions will be added to the total.
Cotter Schlax said that while all canned donations are welcome, food pantries are most in need of low-sodium canned vegetables as well as canned tuna, chicken and salmon and pasta, rice and instant oatmeal packets. For further guidance, the organization published a list online.
She also enjoys seeing what sculpting teams come up with every year, and doesn’t know until the day what will be built that year.
“People are very creative,” she said, “and next year we’'ll look forward to Mainebiz creating a newspaper.”
Friday's gathering wound down with dozens of Hannaford employees taking the stage for their own twist on a famous Queen song, singing, "We will, we will ... support United Way, support United Way!"
Complete winners list
Small + Mighty Award: RTS Packaging
Best sculpture CAN-structed by a small business (employee size up to 99
Rookie Award: Wright-Ryan Construction
Best sculpture assembled by a new team (first or second year)
Best Meal Award: CCB Construction Services
Judges reviewed sculptures for ingredients which would make the best well balanced, healthy meal. Teams were asked to display a list of items and quantities used.
Best in Show: MaineHealth
For best design (originality and creativity), craft(balance, detail, and use of space) and amount of food collected.
Community Choice Award: Martin's Point Health Care
Attendees cast their electronic votes for their favorite display.
People's Choice Window Award: Uncommon Paws
People voted all week for their favorite window displays at participating downtown Portland businesses.
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