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"A Hedge Against Hunger"

We, the undergrads from Cal Poly Pomona, are thankful for the opportunity to use our passion for design to make a positive difference in our community. We hope our light-hearted hedgehog design will bring a smile to your face and that a smile will be brought to the face of someone hungry, with each delivered can. Beyond that, our hedgehog can be seen as a symbol of "the hungry." Hedgehogs are globally recognized but generally overlooked animals in America because of their small size and small numbers.  This inspired us in our CANstruction endeavor because while hunger is not a small problem, it, too, is often overlooked and ignored. Just as a hedgehog is hidden and protected beneath their prickly exterior, those that are hungry are hidden and protected beneath the cover of the stranger walking next to you, your waitress, or an ambitious student. Fighting hunger may have left these individuals with a hardened exterior, equipping them to defend themselves against judgment or ridicule, just as a hedgehog’s spine helps in their defense against predators. But beneath the tough façade, there is a fellow human being, vulnerable and deserving of our help. As students we often fight for our education but not many of us have ever known the fight that happens every day in America for those who go hungry. Hunger is a global problem we are increasingly aware of as we enter the adult world, and we have made it our business to stand up for those hungry men, women and children who are struggling to put food on the table.  Hedgehogs may not live in our backyard, but hunger can be found anywhere and we want to help.