The sculptures at Bridgewater Commons were built to be admired. Then to be eaten. And if it can raise awareness that food insecurity is prevalent in Somerset County, one of the richest in the nation, that’s great, too.
Such was the idea behind CANstruction, a recent project at the mall, an exhibit that featured four teams making sculptures of at least 2,000 cans.
Their efforts drew much acclaim from customers.
Customers who likely didn’t know much about food insecurity in their area, the efforts of the Food Bank of Somerset County to assist — or that the exhibit that brought the awareness almost didn’t happen.
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Tom Kovacic, the Marketing and Business Development Director at the Bridgewater Commons, was more than willing to make space for the exhibit.
There was just one problem. He didn’t have any cans.
Fortunately, there were a large number of people and organizations that wanted to help.
Monica Martinez Milan, a member of the food bank’s board of directors and the past Chair of the Somerset County Business Partnership, connected Kovacic and Steve Katz, the food bank’s executive director, with Lori Tarke.
Tarke, the executive director of Seton Hall University’s Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute, brought in Natalia Rosario, a public relations and partnership specialist at Goya, which was eager to help, donating 10,000 cans.
All that was left was the creating.
Over the span of three days, four groups made sculptures, which remained on display a week.
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The winner was Messer Americas, the largest private natural gas supplier in North America, which just happens to be based in Bridgewater. Its project, “Launching Hope,” edged out three other entries:
- “Meals in Flight”: Paramount Facility Management Solutions
- “Navesink Twin Lights”: SSP Architects
- “Abuelita’s Pantry”: the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute of Seton Hall
The real winner, of course, are the families in need.
More than 30,000 residents in Somerset County have food insecurity issues.
Tarke said the Latino Institute has seen the problem up close — it’s what drew the Essex County school to Central Jersey.
“We have witnessed the effects of food insecurity at the Latino Institute, and it’s places like the food bank that act as a lifeline,” she said. “Our team, with the support of volunteers from the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute and Atlantic Health System, are happy to represent Seton Hall University and support this great initiative.”
For information about the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at Seton Hall, go to
shu.edu/latino-institute.
For information about the Food Bank of Somerset County, go to somersetfoodbank.org.
For information about the CANstruction initiative, go to canstruction.org.
