Photo by Graham Cullen Bechtel engineers participated in a canned food drive challenge in which teams of engineers designed and constructed themed displays, like this football stadium. Purchase this photo

Muller's "The-can-do-attitude" squad -- one of seven Bechtel groups participating -- constructed a 10-by-5-foot replica gridiron, complete with goal posts, players, and stands filled with Campbell tomato soup "fans."

Actually, the entire stadium was built using canned food and non-perishables.

The competition, in which teams of 8-10 employees spent a month collecting soup, pasta, cereal and juice, among other grocery items, and then designed ships, nuclear reactors and football stadium from the boxes, bottles and cans, benefited the Frederick Rescue Mission.

Altogether this year, the Bechtel teams made a contribution of more than 10,000 food items and $3,500.

"This is the second year we've done it with Bechtel and it's really incredible," said Arnold Farlow, executive director of the Frederick Rescue Mission. "We do a lot of food drives, but nothing quite like this."

Each Bechtel team also dressed in concert with their food "sculptures."

Muller's team put on professional football jerseys, the second-place "One Can Make A Difference" squad created a huge model Mayflower ship and wore black pilgrim hats, and third-place, "NextGen" group which built the to scale nuclear reactors donned hard hats.

"We nearly ran out of food in July and we've been blessed to make it through the year," said Farlow. "This time last year we were serving 4,200 meals a day and the last two months we've done 5,500 and 5,800. With this and other donations we should be in good shape for the next 4-5 months."

Farlow said with the ongoing economic crisis, demand for monthly grocery boxes is also up 25-30 percent.

"I can't speak highly enough of what Bechtel is doing," he said. "It's a great example of what business, corporate and non-profit partnerships do to help those in need. You don't hear enough about that side of businesses and corporations and what they accomplish in the community. With their help, there is no need why anyone in Frederick should go hungry."