Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Honor Heisler, 14, left, and Isabella Jagenverg, 14, both of Westport, fashioned a creature from the sands of Compo Beach at the Castles in the Sand contest Saturday.
Honor Heisler, 14, left, and Isabella Jagenverg, 14, both of Westport, fashioned a creature from the sands of Compo Beach at the Castles in the Sand contest Saturday.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Jack Noble, 11, of Westport, takes to the air after balancing atop a large garbage can filled with sand to pack it down for an award-winning lighthouse construction done at Castles in the Sand by the youth group of Greens Farms Congregational Church. less
Jack Noble, 11, of Westport, takes to the air after balancing atop a large garbage can filled with sand to pack it down for an award-winning lighthouse construction done at Castles in the Sand by the youth ... more
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Molly Anderson worked as the lobster for the annual Castles in the Sand competition at Compo Beach.
Molly Anderson worked as the lobster for the annual Castles in the Sand competition at Compo Beach.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Matt Principe crafted a sculpture of Captain Kidd at Castles in the Sand.
Matt Principe crafted a sculpture of Captain Kidd at Castles in the Sand.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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For Castles in the Sand, Steven Goldstein helped create Inchy, the inchworm, which he said was "inching toward homes for everyone."
For Castles in the Sand, Steven Goldstein helped create Inchy, the inchworm, which he said was "inching toward homes for everyone."
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Joining forces, Simone Barr, Eliza Barr and Julia Feldman, all of Westport, made a sand pooch Saturday at Compo Beach.
Joining forces, Simone Barr, Eliza Barr and Julia Feldman, all of Westport, made a sand pooch Saturday at Compo Beach.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Chloe Leeds sculpts Compo Beach sand into a structure for the Castle in the Sands competition.
Chloe Leeds sculpts Compo Beach sand into a structure for the Castle in the Sands competition.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Jeff Wieser, left, president & CEO of Hopes with Hope, a co-sponsor of Castles in the Sand, and competition judge Miggs Burroughs talk about sculptures entered in the Saturday competition.
Jeff Wieser, left, president & CEO of Hopes with Hope, a co-sponsor of Castles in the Sand, and competition judge Miggs Burroughs talk about sculptures entered in the Saturday competition.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Annelise Van Breems helped a group from Saugatuck Congregational Church construct its sand village at Castles in the Sand.
Annelise Van Breems helped a group from Saugatuck Congregational Church construct its sand village at Castles in the Sand.
Photo: Jarret Liotta
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Isabelle Nahon of Westport made a mermaid for Castles in the Sand.
Isabelle Nahon of Westport made a mermaid for Castles in the Sand.
Photo: Jarret Liotta

Building more than just sand sculptures, hard-working craftspeople had fun Saturday while raising funds and awareness for a good cause.

The occasion was the 14th annual Castles in the Sand at Compo Beach benefiting Homes with Hope.

"This year Builders Beyond Borders is joining us as a co-presenter," said Jeff Weiser, the Homes with Hope president and CEO, which addresses local issues of homelessness and hunger.

About 40 lots of sand for sculpting, both large and small, were bought up by individuals and groups to help support the cause. Entrants used their creative skills to construct an eclectic beachfront landscape of castles, cities, creatures and more.

"I think it's awesome," said Diana Sussman of Westport, who worked with her family to create an award-winning portrait of Olaf, the snowman from the movie, "Frozen." "I think this charity is a great community builder."

The prizes for nine different winners was the coveted golden shovel.

We have about 100 people in bed right now who otherwise would be homeless," Wieser said of the help his organization provides for the homeless in town, "and about 40 of those are children."

"We've got it kind of all down," he said of donations that support the annual fundraiser. "Gault supplies the sand. Kowalski spreads the sand. It kind of all happens with a lot of hard work."

Wieser estimated that over 1,200 tons of fine-quality sand has been added to the local beachfront since the event began.

"I think it's a great program," said Simone Barr, 14, of Westport, who was part of another award-winning team for their sculpture of Dewey the Bassett Hound.

"I love to see everyone out," she said. "Everybody's so supportive and it's really great to see how much creativity comes out."

Winners in the sandcastle competition were:

- Best Big Lot: Goldstein family, Inchy

- Best Really Big Lot: Greens Farms Congregational Church, Lighthouse

- Kowalsky Most Ambitious Lot: Saugatuck Congregational Church, The Village

- Epstein Most Creative Lot: Builders Beyond Borders, Fountains Interactive

- Peter Cadoux Award: Keenan family and Gabriel Tax & Accounting, Minion Mayhem.

- Miggs Burroughs Award: Epstein family, Chichen Itza

- Mothers Day Award, two winners: Crouch family, Basket of Flowers and Sussman family, Olaf Lost His Head

- People's Choice Award: Flug / Jennifer Johnson families, Dewey the Basset Hound.