Hopelink Can Madness is a food & fund drive tournament among local businesses and community groups to stock the shelves at Hopelink’s five no-cost food markets during a time of year when food bank donations decline, but the need is still there! Similar to the March Madness™ basketball tournament every spring, Hopelink Can Madness pairs businesses in one-on-one brackets, enabling them to compete each week in a single-elimination food & fund drive tournament. Winning teams move on to the next round until we reach a champion!

• The competition begins Friday, February 27th with 32 teams!
• March 6 — first weigh in, 16 teams move on!
• March 13 — second weigh in, 8 teams move on!
• March 20 — third weigh in, 4 teams move on!
• March 27 — fourth weigh in, 2 teams move on!
• April 3 — final weigh in, champion is announced!

To make the competition as fair as possible, points will be calculated by dividing the number of pounds of food and dollars brought in each week by a denominator that is based on the size of your business. See the official rules for more information.

You will receive an email from Hopelink on Friday afternoons. Results will also be posted to the Hopelink website.

All teams have the option to participate an additional weekly Second Chance Shoot Out! Each week, teams will be invited to compete against the rest of the eliminated teams plus any drop in teams. The Second Chance Shoot Out will not use the point denomination system. Instead, teams will be competing pound-for-pound, regardless of team size. This is considered a friendly side competition and is completely optional.

Each week, a winner will be announced from the Second Chance Shoot Out. Teams are always welcome and encouraged to continue collecting food and raising funds after they’ve been knocked out of the official competition.

Please ensure that all donated items are non-perishable, not expired, and in their original, unopened packaging. A list of our most needed items can be found in the Hopelink Can Madness rules flyer. Our clients can only use single-serving or family-sized items, so
restaurant-sized portions can’t be used by our no-cost food markets.

32 business will make up our full bracket!

The deadline for submitting your registration form online is Friday, February 20. We will email the full bracketed list on Wednesday, February 25.

All 32 teams initially — and then each team that advances in the tournament, must bring their donations to be weighed at a Hopelink center. The food you collect will be weighed each Friday of the tournament (March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3). Teams must schedule and drop off their donations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on these dates. For Sno Valley teams please note that Sno-Valley weigh-ins will take place on Thursdays, as the center is closed on Fridays. The winning team from each match-up will move on to the next round. Please contact us at canmadness@hopelink.org or at 425-869-2440 at the beginning of the week if you need to change your expected drop-off time that week

You bet! Monetary donations made to Hopelink as part of Hopelink Can Madness will be valued at 1 pound per dollar. Each team will have their own fundraising page set up by the starting date with a unique URL to share with supporters. All monetary donations must be received by 2 p.m. on Fridays during the competition in order to be counted toward your team’s weekly points. Checks or cash can be dropped off at the center during your weigh in, and online donations can be submitted using your computer or mobile device

Absolutely. Receipt forms will be provided by a Hopelink representative when you come in each week to drop off your food donations. The in-kind donation receipt will be earmarked for the registered business. Individuals will receive emailed receipts for their online donations.

Of course! Hopelink Can Madness posters will be available, along with crates to hold food and cardboard sleeves that surround the crates. Also available for your use are custom communication kits to help you spread the word and promote your team fundraising.

When posting about Can Madness, don’t forget to tag us on social media @hopelinkhelps on Instagram, @hopelink on Facebook, and @Hopelink on LinkedIn.