Canned foods to be collected at football game
COSHOCTON – This week’s football game between River View and Coshocton high schools is about a county rivalry and helping the community.
While the athletes battle it out on the field, Coshocton’s Key Club and River View’s Letterman’s Club will be collecting items for a canned food drive.
“Last year we had a banner made for the winning school to display at their football field, but the real winners are those who benefit from the food,” said Matt Hartmeyer, Key Club advisor.
Jarred Renner, advisor of the Letterman’s Club, said the students at River View really get into the competition and the week of fun leading up to it.
“It’s rivalry/spirit week,” he said. “We have dress up days and all week you hear, ‘Beat Coshocton.’”
Students are encouraged to bring donations to the schools and then members of the clubs staff donation boxes at the game for the public to make contributions to.
“The kids work well together,” Hartmeyer said.
This is the third year Key Club has helped with the event.
“We are all about community service and having fun at the same time,” Hartmeyer said. “It’s a real good feeling to be able to help and the kids also put a lot of time and hard work into this.”
The winner of the canned food drive is announced at half time of the game. The donated items collected by Coshocton are given to The Salvation Army to be distributed to those in need and River View’s are given to the food pantry in Nellie.
“We are doing it a little different this year,” Renner said. “We are each helping the food pantries in our own districts. It helps get the kids into it more and the parents when they know they are doing something for their own local community.”
This year’s collection and game will be at River View. The game starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1.
Renner couldn’t recall the exact number of items River View collected last year, but he knows it was in the thousands.
“We usually do pretty well and I know last year we did quite well and got more than we thought,” he said.
River View won the competition last year, but Hartmeyer said Coshocton is ready to take a stand.
“The game was home for us last year so we really hope we can spark more interest with the community and win on their field,” Hartmeyer said.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Education
