Breakfast Stack Challenge Official Contest Rules

1. Contest Overview

The Breakfast Stack Challenge is a community food drive and creative competition benefiting the Heart of Alabama Food Bank. Schools and businesses are invited to collect eligible breakfast food items and use them to create an original Breakfast Stack structure or display.

Participants will submit a photograph of their completed Breakfast Stack for the opportunity to receive recognition in one or more contest categories.

All eligible food items used in the Breakfast Stack should be donated to the Heart of Alabama Food Bank following the competition.

No purchase necessary to enter or vote. Void where prohibited by law.

2. Contest Administration, Ownership, and Sponsorship

• The Breakfast Stack Challenge is owned, produced, and administered by WAKA Action 8 News (“WAKA” or “Contest Owner”).
• The Heart of Alabama Food Bank (HAFB) is the official community sponsor and beneficiary of the contest.
• Piggly Wiggly is providing the $200 gift card awarded in connection with the voter participation promotion.
• WAKA Action 8 News is responsible for all contest operations, including entry collection, judging coordination, and voting administration.

3. Contest Timeline

Entry Period

• Begins: August 25, 2026
• Ends: September 13, 2026  5pm
• Late submissions will not be accepted.

Public Voting Period

• Begins: September 14, 2026 at 12:00 AM Central Time (CT)
• Ends: September 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (CT)

All entries and votes are recorded through WAKA’s official contest platform, which serves as the official record.

4. Eligibility Requirements

General Eligibility

• Entrant must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
• Entries may be submitted on behalf of a participating school or business.

Organization Categories

• School: A participating educational institution
• Small Business: Fewer than 50 employees
• Large Business: 50 or more employees

Entry Limits

• One entry per participating school or business unless otherwise approved by WAKA.

Restrictions

• Employees of WAKA Action 8 News, HAFB, participating sponsors, and their immediate family members are not eligible to win prizes.
• WAKA may limit eligibility to organizations within the viewing area of WAKA Action 8 News.

5. Entry Requirements

To participate, eligible organizations must:

• Create a Breakfast Stack using eligible nonperishable breakfast food items
• Submit a photograph of the completed structure during the Entry Period

Examples of Eligible Items

• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Grits
• Granola bars
• Toaster pastries
• Other shelf-stable breakfast foods approved for donation

Entry Standards

• Must be original work of the participating organization
• Must be appropriate for public display
• Must align with the spirit and purpose of the contest
• Must not alter the boxes by opening, cutting, or using adhesive, only unaltered food is collectible by HAFB.

WAKA may disqualify entries that are incomplete, unsafe, inappropriate, fraudulent, or otherwise noncompliant.

6. Award Categories

People’s Choice Award

• Awarded to the entry receiving the highest number of valid public votes

Judged Awards

• Best School – Highest-rated school entry
• Best Small Business – Highest-rated small business entry
• Best Large Business – Highest-rated large business entry
• Most Creative – Most original and imaginative entry overall

7. Judging Criteria

Except for the People’s Choice Award, winners are selected by a judging panel based on submitted photographs.

Evaluation Criteria

• Creativity and originality
• Visual impact and presentation
• Construction and execution
• Use of breakfast food items
• Community spirit and alignment with contest mission

Judging is based solely on submitted photographs. All judging decisions are final.

8. People’s Choice Voting

Voting Process

• Entries will be displayed on WAKA’s official contest platform
• Public voting occurs during the official Voting Period

Valid Votes

• Only votes cast between September 14, 2026 at 12:00 AM CT and September 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT will count

Winner Determination

• The entry with the highest number of valid votes wins the People’s Choice Award

Voting Integrity

WAKA may disqualify votes or entries involving:

• Automated voting systems
• Bots or scripts
• Fraudulent or manipulated voting activity
• Multiple-account abuse or other irregular behavior

Final vote totals are determined by WAKA’s official platform.

9. Voter Prize

Prize Opportunity

• Eligible voters may be entered into a drawing to win a $200 Piggly Wiggly gift card

Key Terms

• No purchase necessary to vote or enter the drawing
• Voting for a specific entry does not increase chances of winning
• Winner is selected from eligible voters per contest procedures

10. Winner Notification

• Winners will be contacted by phone and/or email
• Winners must respond within seven (7) days of notification
• Failure to respond or verify eligibility may result in selection of an alternate winner
• All results are unofficial until eligibility is confirmed

11. Prizes and Recognition

Awards

• People’s Choice Winner — Trophy
• Best School — Trophy
• Best Small Business — Trophy
• Best Large Business — Trophy
• Most Creative — Trophy
• Voter Drawing Winner — $200 Piggly Wiggly Gift Card

Prize Conditions

• Prizes are nontransferable unless otherwise determined by WAKA
• Winners are responsible for all applicable taxes

12. Use of Entries, Names, and Likeness

By entering, participants grant WAKA Action 8 News and HAFB permission to use:

• Submitted photographs
• Organization name
• Entrant name
• City and state information

These materials may be used for promotional purposes across all media without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

13. General Conditions

• Entrants agree to abide by these Official Rules
• WAKA’s decisions are final in all matters
• WAKA may modify, suspend, or cancel the contest if necessary
• The contest is not intended for gambling and may be disqualified if used unlawfully

14. Technical Issues

WAKA and HAFB are not responsible for:

• Lost, late, or incomplete entries or votes
• Website or system failures
• Internet or network disruptions
• Technical errors or unauthorized access issues

15. Release of Liability

Participants release WAKA Action 8 News, HAFB, Piggly Wiggly, and all sponsors from liability related to:

• Participation in the contest
• Use or acceptance of any prize
• Any related claims or damages

16. Intellectual Property

All contest materials created by WAKA are protected under applicable intellectual property laws. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

17. Final Acknowledgment

By participating in the Breakfast Stack Challenge, entrants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to these Official Rules.