Cardboard dreams will feature at this week's Float Your Boat fundraiser

Cardboard, duct tape, latex paint and hope are what individuals and groups will use to keep some "sea-worthy" vessels afloat Saturday in the annual Float Your Boat competition for the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.

The event starts 9 a.m. with the boat-check-in and opening of food trucks at the Bass Pro Shops Lake, 3101 Bass Pro Drive. Team registration and volunteer registration links still were active Friday. Thirty-two teams were registered as of Friday. Volunteers must be aged 12 years or older. People's Choice award voting starts 10 a.m. and boat races kick off at 11 a.m.

There are two event categories: the short course for those ages 8 to 14, and the long course for individuals, families and organizations. Short course participants usually are made up Columbia Public Schools elementary class groups.

The Food Bank aims to raise upward of $10,000 for its premiere spring event, which originally was launched in 2012 by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. It has raised nearly $1,700 as of Friday.

Awards given in the annual cardboard regatta include People's Choice, Allure of the Seas (most creative or best design), Captain's Award (Most spirited team), Titanic Award (the most spectacular sinking) and course time awards.

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At least two boats are launched in each round and participants aim to cross the finish line first.

"Sometimes boats fly across the water or sink in a humongous way, so it is really fun," said Lindsay Young Lopez, Food Bank president and CEO, at last year's event. "It's fun and such a family-friendly event and atmosphere. I love that it is a way for some families to come together and work on this project."

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Float Your Boat fundraising contest sets sail for region's Food Bank