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Can Tree Wonderland: Grinch Edition Wraps Up with Over $61,000 Raised

  • Rachel Bonilla
  • Dec 27, 2024
  • 3 min read

Friday, December 27, 2024

A Grinch impersonator sitting on a FARSB staff member's lap in front of who-ville houses and Christmas decorations.

Photo Credits: Cameron Alexander


FARSB hosted its fourth annual Can Tree Wonderland: Grinch Edition on Saturday, December 14th, which marked an exciting new era for the food bank. With the elimination of the annual gala event, we pushed to make this year's Can Tree Wonderland bigger and better than ever before!


In an exciting donor-led food drive, 42 teams showcased their creativity with stunning can trees for the decorating competition. This year's event was a huge success, raising over $61,000 to combat food insecurity!


Can Tree Wonderland: Grinch Edition

We went all out on the Grinch theme this year with large Who-ville houses and lampposts around the warehouse, strung-up lights along the racks, and even had the Grinch himself! We also had mini-fair games and holiday activities like ornament-making, coloring pages, and face painting.


In case you missed it, check out our recap video below:

We want to give a huge shout-out to Dutch Bros. for their incredible support! They generously donated their time and drinks, along with volunteers, to serve our attendees. Check out the video above to see our amazing vendors in action!


If you missed out, you can follow our social media accounts during the holiday season of 2025 to stay up-to-date on the next Can Tree Wonderland!


Winner's Circle

With our participants getting into the spirit, we had lots of choices for attendees to vote on, but the overwhelming winner turned out to be one of our beloved sponsors: DCH Subaru of Riverside, with their Subaru-themed tree, complete with dozens of mini Subaru vehicles! Vons - Store 2659 and Stanbridge University took 2nd and 3rd place.


The photos below are replicas of the awards the winners received for placing in the event!

Photo of Subaru's entry into Can Tree Wonderland event competition, features a christmas tree made of cans, decorated with Subaru mini vehicles, fake snow, and Subaru signs with their business's logo.


Photo of Vons store 2659's decorated tree entry into decorating competition. Photo features the Wicked theme can tree decorated with green and pink tulle, a scented broom, a bejeweled woman's shoe, and topped with a witch's hat with a tiara on it.
Photo of Stanbridge University's entry into the decorating competition. Photo features the can tree decorated with fake snow, blue ribbons, and stuffed penguins sledding down the slope of faux snow.

















With all of the cans brought to build the can trees, we ended up with over 8,000 pounds of food going directly to our food distributions and out to our partner network of pantries and soup kitchens. A big thanks to all of our participants who came, built, and decorated their can trees. We had such a great event because of the wonderful group that dedicated their time and effort to our cause.


Generous Sponsors

FARSB would like to take the time to formally thank all of our incredible sponsors for making this entire event possible. A special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions Foundation!


We look forward to next year and hope for continued participation with Can Tree Wonderland!

Sponsorship thank-you image with tiered logos of sponsors for Can Tree Wonderland event from Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions Foundation, Vulcan Materials Company, Hodgdon Management Construction, DCH Subaru of Riverside, Molina Healthcare, Athens Services, AvalonBay Communities, and Dedeaux Properties. Purple box with text that reads, "Thank you to our Sponsors."

CEO Message

As this was the final event of the year 2024, our CEO, Carolyn Fajardo, has a special message for our nonprofit organization's supporters who have assisted us throughout the year through volunteering, donating, or receiving food from our various programs.


"The holiday season is always a challenging time for food banks, with the demand for assistance rising as the holidays approach. This event not only brings immense joy to our community but also makes a meaningful and lasting impact. Thank you to everyone who participated and showed their support!" - Carolyn Fajardo


Wrap-Up

With our event closing out the year for our food bank, we'd like to take the time to thank all of our generous supporters throughout 2024. From volunteers sorting products to donors presenting check donations, FARSB staff and supporters are always grateful for all our community does to allow us to continue.


Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!


Group photo in front of Grinch-style houses and presents, with Grinch character in full costume posing in front of the group of people.

If you want to stay up-to-date on our upcoming events, please contact: Willow Kudla-Smith, Donor Relations Coordinator at wsmith@feedingamericaie.org for more information.


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