Throughout September, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Samford University are collaborating for Birmingham CANnected: Two Schools. One City. with the goal of helping close the meal gap that one in six adults and one in four children face in central Alabama.
The two universities are conducting a campus-wide food drive that will lead to the construction of a can-based structure. All donations collected during the collaboration will benefit the universities’ food pantries and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.
“Hunger is continuing to rise across central Alabama,” said Nicole Williams, CEO of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. “We’re excited to partner with UAB and Samford to ensure more of our neighbors have access to the food they need to thrive.”
According to the CFB, “Food drives contribute food that is distributed directly to our neighbors through our network of over 300 distribution partners. Just as importantly, they raise awareness of the reality of hunger that many of our neighbors face daily.”
Volunteer Sign Ups
UAB Donation Sorting UAB Assembly Samford Structure Building
Volunteers are essential to the success of this initiative. The universities encourage students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents to address hunger through volunteering with their respective schools. Helping address hunger includes donating canned goods in person or through the schools’ Amazon wish lists.
CFB collection boxes are placed across both campuses to hold and encourage canned good donations. Donations will be used to create a signature structure that reflects the 2026 theme, the Magic City, during the weeklong construction period. From Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, volunteers will construct a primarily canned goods structure that must fit in 10-by-10-by-10-foot spaces on the schools’ campuses. On the conclusion of the weeklong construction period, a judging panel made up of representatives from the CFB will review each school’s structure and donations.
Donations are also accepted at Samford’s Community Engagement Office in Brooks Hall and UAB’s Off-Campus Student Lounge located in the Hill Student Center.
With Samford’s Family Weekend set for Sept. 25-27 and UAB’s Family Weekend taking place Oct. 2-4, both campuses will have the opportunity to incorporate family members into the service collaboration, whether it is by assisting in structure construction or contributing to donations. On Friday, Sept. 25, Samford students and parents can sign up here to help the Bulldogs sort canned goods during their family weekend. UAB students and their families are encouraged to contribute through canned good donations.
On Oct. 2, judges will visit the two campuses to evaluate the structures. The canned creations will be judged on the following areas:
- Most creative use of cans
- Best structural engineering
- Best interpretation of theme
- Best overall design
Important Birmingham CANnected dates:
- Sept. 1: Donation collection began across Samford and UAB campuses
- Sept. 10:UAB’s Women’s Soccer at Samford
- Sept. 17: UAB Volleyball at Samford
- Sept. 25: Structure construction begins
- Sept. 25-27: Samford Family Weekend
- Oct. 2-4: UAB Family Weekend
- Oct. 2: Construction must be completed for judging to begin.
- Oct. 3: Conclusion of Birmingham CANnected 2026 with the Samford Football at UAB
The collaboration is a part of a friendly competition that will end Saturday, Oct. 3, at the UAB versus Samford football game at Protective Stadium, where judges will highlight the success and impact of the initiative.
Throughout this initiative, both Samford and UAB Athletics will encourage fans and event attendees to perform an act of service. During UAB’s Women’s Soccer at Samford, UAB Volleyball at Samford and Samford Football at UAB games, fans will be encouraged to sign up to become a registered organ donor though Donate Life and donate to Birmingham CANnected: Two Schools. One City.
See the Blazers take on the Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 3. Purchase tickets here.
Making a difference in the community that calls the city home is vital to both Samford and UAB. Samford encourages students to stay active in community service during their time as a Bulldog through Samford Serves, and UAB’s Blazer Core Curriculum empowers students to engage with the Birmingham community through hands-on service during their time as a Blazer.
This collaboration allows the two schools to unite for a meaningful cause to increase awareness of hunger in Birmingham and fight hunger in central Alabama. Together, UAB and Samford can make a difference.