FORT MYERS, Fla. - eTradeWire -- GL Homes kickstarted its Summer of Service initiative with a building competition to benefit Harry Chapin Food Bank and its vision to end hunger in Southwest Florida.

Held June 9 at Harry Chapin Food Bank's Collier Distribution Center, the GL Homes CAN-tastic Competition was a spirited competition where teams raced against the clock to build miniature replicas of homes out of canned goods. Each team had two hours to design and assemble their structure using 500 cans of food as the primary building material. Judges evaluated homes based on creativity and originality, structural integrity, visual appeal, adherence to the theme and efficient use of materials. In the end, judges declared the blue team – which used an American flag as its front door and incorporated a working light – as the winner.

"We are in a community of great wealth, but we also are in a community that has great need," said Sarah Alsofrom, vice president of community relations for GL Homes. "Hunger is a 24/7 issue for those who are in need, so our GL Homes volunteers are here to raise awareness for hunger-relief efforts in Southwest Florida."

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GL Homes, a Florida homebuilder with communities across Southwest Florida and beyond, donated 1,000 cans of food to Harry Chapin Food Bank, which immediately transported the items – cans of mixed vegetables, green beans and corn – to St. Matthew's House, one of its agency partners. GL Homes also presented the Food Bank with a check for $10,000 to support its mission of ending hunger in Southwest Florida.

"Nothing happens at the Food Bank without community support," said Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank. "Wonderful organizations like GL Homes are absolutely a key part of what we do. They make it possible through their volunteerism and their financial support for us to pursue our mission to take care of our neighbors."

GL Homes' philanthropic initiatives support more than 100 nonprofits across Florida, pinpointing organizations focused on breaking the cycle of homelessness, combating hunger, and supporting children and education. The CAN-tastic Competition was the third consecutive year the builder hosted a Summer of Service initiative in partnership with Harry Chapin Food Bank. In 2024, GL Homes held a competition that resulted in 891 meal kits being packed over two hours. In 2023, groups of volunteers packed 3,084 pounds of fresh produce during a three-hour shift.

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Harry Chapin Food Bank, the region's largest hunger-relief organization and the only Feeding America partner food bank in Southwest Florida, serves 250,000 neighbors each month who are experiencing hunger through mobile food pantries, distribution centers and community events. It's estimated that one in eight people in Southwest Florida – and one in six children – are food insecure.