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GE crafts Seven Wonders from food donations by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Friday, June 28, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com It's not easy building the wonders of the world -- especially if you're using non-perishable food items as your materials. For several weeks, Oakville's GE Power and Water facility employees collected cookie and cereal boxes, canned food, tea, juice, and crackers to recreate the ancient and modern wonders of the world -- the non-perishable food items were then donated to the Partnership West Food Bank. This is the second year GE has adopted a sculpture-building competition to its food drive and it turned into a bigger haul for the Burlington food bank, said Heather Millar, lead volunteer and GE product manager for life cycle services. "During the first year, it was unexpected how well it went. We collected 9,105 pounds (4,130 kilograms) of food. This year, we've collected 12,800 lbs., surpassing our goal of raising 10,000 lbs.," she said. "In the past, when we used to collect donations for the food bank, it wouldn't be much. At most, we'd collect around 600 lbs. -- this year, that's what one team raised on its own." With close to 600 employees participating, the staff was divided into five teams, with another from GE's Guelph facility. The Guelph team won with its recreation of the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. "We said we needed to mix things up and 21 to put together their creations using primarily the donations they had collected as well as wood for support structures. Each team elected one person as a panel judge to grade the creations. Judging was based on: total weight; if a team used items the food bank had specifically requested; and the sculpture, which was graded on technical, creative, and overall impression -- what Millar called the "wow" factor. The sculptures were on display until June 25, before donations were delivered. Organizers say they hope the event can become an annual happening at GE. "Perhaps we can get our facilities around North America involved and each facility creates its own team and sculpture," said Millar. CONCRETE · DRIVEWAYS · FRENCH CURBS · PATIOS · STEPS · WALKWAYS GE Power and Water employee Jennifer Goyeau sits in front of the throne of Zeus at Olympia as close to 600 GE staff recreated the Seven Wonders of the World out of donated food. photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) · GARAGE FLOORS find a way to get people more engaged," Millar said. "With this competition, everybody here gets to use their skills and it's all for a great cause." The teams had from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on June uality At Its Best! Call Fernando EXPOSED AGGREGATE (Pebble) 905-844-5518 · 1-888-944-5518 www.concretetrimmings.com FREE ESTIMATES Auto Body Repair Auto Body Repair Headlight Rejuvination Quick Service Quick Service Low Prices Low Prices ® PREMIU UM SPOT T REPA AIR R EE FR ates im Est "BrokerLink helped me save $701, and on better coverage." ­ Janis C. Janis C. of Woodstock At BrokerLink, we've helped thousands of people save on insurance while making sure they have all the coverage they need. Speak with one of our advisors today about getting insurance that will actually cost you less. To see more on how we helped Janis and others save, visit brokerlink.ca. If you'd like to speak to an insurance advisor, call or stop by our office at 102-1320 Cornwall Road, Oakville. You Don't Pay HST in the Month of July!* Fra action of the e co ost of a bod dy shop p! Come see us before your car lease ends! QEW ® Call, Switch & Save. www.BrokerLink.ca 905.337.7968 MPS Mic cro opa aint t Canad da Ltd d 467 Sp pee ers Rd d #11 1 Oak kville in nfo@ @mpsmic crop pain nt.c com m www.m mpsm mic cro opai int t.co om VAL DOR Lifetime Warranty Fourt h Line Unit #11 Speers RD (905) 842-4MPS (4677) (4677) (905) 842-4MPS *Not to be combined with any other promotion Annual savings from an actual customer who switched to BrokerLink. Your savings experience may differ. Services available in Ontario through Canada Brokerlink (Ontario) Inc. TMBrokerLink & Design is a trademark of Canada Brokerlink Inc. used under license. © Copyright 2013 Canada Brokerlink Inc. All rights reserved.