The Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum (WISF) will conduct the 2023 CAN DO Challenge, a six-week charitable initiative to be held Oct. 17-Nov. 28. Now in its fourth year, the annual charitable event encourages professionals and companies across the security industry to combat food insecurity during the holiday season.

CAN DO — spearheaded by the SIA WISF UpliftHER Subcommittee (formerly called the Charitable Giving Subcommittee) — is about alleviating hunger as part of our industry’s collective commitment to human safety and well-being. Security professionals and organizations can participate by donating “cans” or “doing” acts, such as delivering or serving meals.

“Women are more likely to suffer from food insecurity than men and are biologically more prone to malnutrition. Since the first CAN DO Challenge in 2020, this annual giveback event has helped nourish thousands of America’s most vulnerable, thanks to the generosity of SIA members,” said Margie Gurwin, SIA WISF UpliftHER Subcommittee co-chair and owner of Content Creation Partners.

“This year, we’re making it easier for individuals to participate and contribute through partnerships with Philadelphia-based Philabundance and New York City’s Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries (RMM),” explained Liz Gyuris, UpliftHER co-chair and channel engagement manager at RAJANT Corporation. “People can shop virtually for grocery items on the Philabundance site or choose items from RMM’s Amazon Wish List and ship them directly to the ministry. In addition, we are encouraging exhibitors at ISC East to pack extra snack items to donate to RMM’s Snack Pack program at the end of the show.”

Here are some other ways individuals and/or their companies can participate in the CAN DO Challenge:

• Pick a beneficiary personally in your community to serve.
• Get your company involved in collecting or serving food locally.
• Create a video and socialize in your sphere.
• Email your company, colleagues, SIA membership, friends, etc., or post on social media about the challenge. Don’t forget to take pictures and use the suggested hashtags #WISF, #CanDoChallenge and #EndHunger for amplification.
• Remember, if your only giving option is donating money, that still counts as kindness. It’s better to give how you CAN than not at all. Links are available to a wealth of charitable food banks.

Donations made by exhibitors at ISC East 2023 can be accepted at SIA’s ISC East booth, #1037.

The WISF UpliftHER Subcommittee is currently seeking volunteers to join the subcommittee and support the WISF community’s charitable efforts, including the CAN DO Challenge. Interested individuals can sign up to volunteer here. You can also learn more about the CAN DO Challenge, access helpful images and social media resources to help get the word out, and find information on organizations to volunteer or donate on the CAN DO page.

SIA’s WISF is a community that works to promote, recruit and cultivate the leadership of women for a more inclusive and diversified industry. In addition to the CAN DO Challenge, WISF offers a number of key programs and activities. Learn more about WISF and its mission here.