Will it float? That’s the question several I&M employees at Elkhart Service Center wanted to know after weeks of construction on their cardboard boat. All the work and fun was put to the test for the Crossroads United Way’s 11th annual Cardboard Boat Race. 

This year’s race was held on a hot and sunny day at the LaSalle Bristol pond in Elkhart. The United Way had more than 50 boats enter the race and it’s known to be the largest cardboard boat race in the Midwest. Teams competed in several heats with the winning vessel advancing to the championship race.

The Elkhart line department and a group of other employees constructed “The Banana Boat” over three weeks. The group didn’t get to test the boat before it hit the water. But, that didn’t seem to matter since the team won their first heat. During the championship battle in the pond, I&M grabbed third place.

“I’m proud of our team for working together to give back to our community where we live and work,” said Ryan Miller, Distribution System Supervisor in Elkhart. “This event not only helped us grow as a team, but we were able to have fun while providing essential services or lifelines to those in our communities who need it the most.”

The event is one of the largest fundraisers for Crossroads United Way. This year more than $100,000 was raised.  The money will go towards providing hot meals, education assistance and other essential life needs for our community.