By Paige Gurgainers
Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry is inviting Minden businesses and organizations to turn canned goods into creative sculptures while helping local families during the holidays.
The pantry’s team has been visiting businesses along downtown’s brick streets and portions of Homer Road, issuing a friendly challenge: “CAN you help us make a difference?”
Participating businesses and groups will host canned food drives, then use the collected cans to build sculptures. Each creation will be photographed for a public voting competition running November 16–28.
Voting will take place both online and in person, with each vote costing $1. All voting proceeds will benefit the pantry’s Feed A Family 2026 program.
Businesses and organizations that have already agreed to participate include Shug’s Minden, Hers Bridal and Special Occasions, Three Little B’s, LaState Realty, LLC, b1BANK, the Greater Minden Chamber, The Mosaic Company and Momma’s Little Corner.
The pantry welcomes additional businesses, organizations, schools and other groups to join the challenge.
Feed A Family is Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry’s holiday sponsorship program, which allows community members and supporters from outside the area to help provide holiday meals for local families. Sponsorships cost $25 per family, with a goal of sponsoring 600 families for Thanksgiving and another 600 for Christmas.
While the pantry does not consistently serve 600 families throughout the year, organizers say the number seeking assistance increases significantly as the holidays approach.
For the third consecutive year, the pantry is also accepting nominations for families who need one-time help with a holiday meal. Nominees do not have to qualify for monthly assistance, but they must live within Minden city limits. A completed nomination form is required for each family and can be mailed or dropped off at the pantry.
Sponsorships can be made through PayPal, Venmo, cash, check or through Zeffy using a credit card or bank account. Supporters who would like their gifts recorded for tax purposes can complete a sponsorship form and return it by mail or through Messenger.
The deadline for Thanksgiving sponsorships is November 7. Christmas sponsorships are due December 12.
The pantry will share weekly updates on social media, tracking progress toward its goals and recognizing sponsors unless they choose to remain anonymous.
To participate in the sculpture challenge, sponsor a family or request a nomination form, contact Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry through its Facebook page.