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Images courtesy of the Buffalo City Mission
Images courtesy of the Buffalo City Mission

GEICO constructs 550-can 'CanStruction' For Buffalo City Mission food drive challenge

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Mon, Mar 25th 2019 12:15 pm

‘Mission: Possible’ campaign engages with Western New York schools & students to donate canned goods for region’s homeless

The Buffalo City Mission announced GEICO has constructed a 550-can “CanStruction” of the American flag to support the City Mission’s annual “Mission: Possible” food drive challenge, benefitting the region’s homeless community. GEICO is a $10,000 sponsor and has partnered with the City Mission on the annual challenge for two years.

Developed in coordination with GEICO’s engineering team, the structure was featured as part of a recent event at GEICO’s Getzville offices that featured “Mission: Possible” mascot Agent Can Man, the GEICO Gecko, and company staff.

The “CanStruction” competition was created for schools to have fun and incorporate STEM education (science, mathematics, and the integration of technology and engineering) into the “Mission: Possible” challenge. STEM education encourages students to use innovative problem-solving skills and real-world concepts to make meaningful connections between school, community, work and the global enterprise.

“This ‘CanStruction’ is an incredible visual representation of the support we continue to build for our community’s homeless,” said Aubrey Calhoun, associate executive director of the Buffalo City Mission. “We greatly value GEICO’s continued partnership in this important program as we work together to engage younger generations – in the spirit of education and creativity – to give back to others in need.”

“GEICO continues to be a proud partner of Buffalo City Mission and its collaborative programming aimed at challenging hunger and homelessness in our community,” said Shannon Cercone, regional public affairs coordinator for GEICO. “Today’s ‘CanStruction’ unveiling is a shining example of the impact we can make together through the power of teamwork.”

In addition to the corporate sponsorship and the 550 canned goods they collected, GEICO associates also contributed $2,911 to the Buffalo City Mission.

Once GEICO’s American flag structure is dismantled, the canned food will be distributed to the poor and homeless across the region.

Each year, the “Mission: Possible” program engages schools and student teams across Western New York to come together and develop a vision and strategy of how to track, measure and accomplish goals, and earn character milestone “badges” that recognize the importance of being a visionary, having kindness, compassion, generosity, and also being a community changer.

This year’s program includes two 12-week challenge periods. The first period, which concluded in December 2018, raised 22,626 canned goods. The current challenge period runs through April 19, with features including, but not limited to, a rolling e-scorecard to track team progress, creative activations with contributed canned goods, ongoing rallies, awards and active involvement from the challenge mascot, Agent Can Man.

This year’s goal is to generate 35,000 canned goods to assist the hungry and homeless.

“Mission: Possible” is sponsored by key community partners Rich Products, Citi, GEICO, Windsong Radiology Group and Clover Group. Together, these partners have provided more than $50,000, which helps advance the City Mission’s work and programs.

To learn more about “Mission Possible” and ways to get involved, visit bcmpossible.org.

About Buffalo City Mission

The Buffalo City Mission, founded in 1917, is a nonprofit organization providing preventative, emergency and transitional housing programs to thousands of people who are homeless and impoverished every year. The agency includes a women's and children’s shelter (Cornerstone Manor), the men’s community center, and the Dick Road thrift store to serve the Western New York community. For more information, visit buffalocitymission.org or call 716-854-8181.

Follow on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloCityMission) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/CityMission).

About GEICO

Visit www.geico.com to learn more about GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company), the second-largest auto insurer in the U.S.

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