LI Cares Hosts Farmingdale State College Students For Can Castle Event

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Long Island Cares hosted Farmingdale State College's Can Castle event, a food drive contest that encourages the school's Greek Life to raise donations and awareness for the food bank, the charity announced.

The 2025 event accumulated 71,170 pounds of goods for Long Island Cares after 2024 brought in 46,675 pounds — a 52 percent increase.

This year's event ran on Wednesday with a theme of villains.

Delta Phi Epsilon designed The Joker from DC Comics; Phi Sigma Sigma crafted Pennywise from "It;" Tau Kappa Epsilon built Captain Hook from "Peter Pan;" and Alpha Sigma Phi stacked up Gru from "Despicable Me."

Three sororities and fraternities each constructed creative displays that fit the theme, made entirely out of donated goods.

Tau Kappa Epsilon (Captain Hook) and Phi Sigma Sigma (Pennywise the Clown) were the winners of the Can Castle Design competition.

Logan Penalvert, of Tau Kappa Epsilon, said it means a lot to him and his fraternity to win Can Castle.

"First off, being able to feed the less fortunate is always an amazing thing and makes us feel great, because not everyone knows where there next meal comes from," Penalvert told Patch. "Knowing we are able to provide that for families is a great feeling. Winning Can Castle was also a great feeling and being able to do it with my brothers, Max and Rotem, was amazing. We have never previously won a Can Castle design and the fact we were able to build a ship and an island to represent our brotherhood means a lot to me. Taking first place means a lot, but being able to feed the less fortunate is more of a win to me and my fraternity."

Gabrielle Cubi, food drive coordinator at Long Island Cares, said this year marked her first time participating in Can Castle in her current role.

"I underestimated how much organization went in to making this event safe and successful," Cubi said. "However, over the past few months, working with Will Finnegan, the coordinator of fraternity-sorority life and operations, and all the participating Greek Life students of Farmingdale State College, has moved me. I have seen firsthand the outpouring compassion and generosity — something that speaks volumes about the incredible character of the students. Whether it was organizing food drives, fundraising toward a common goal, volunteering their time, or simply lending a helping hand to their neighbors in need, their actions have been nothing short of inspiring. They have shown everyone throughout the organization the powerful reminder that empathy and service are alive and well in the next generation! Their commitment to making a difference — no matter how big or small — shows us that the future is in very good hands."

Cubi said engaging with the community is the first step of successful fundraising and serves as a reminder that "great things come from listening, creative thinking, and supporting one another."

"Taking some time to just listen to others with a kind and tolerant heart helps build trust, which in turn creates community," Cubi said. "The Long Island Cares Community is made up of some of the most amazing individuals, dedicated volunteers and generous donors of all ages, gender, and race."

Cubi called the amount of food collected at the event "astonishing." The donations will help provide nearly 59,071 meals to food-insecure Long Islanders.

Farmingdale State College Greek Life donated 88,888 individual items over the course of two days, Cubi said.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.