RVHS and CHS holding canned food battle
COSHOCTON – There will be a much bigger battle being fought than on the football field when Coshocton visits River View at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 for both schools final regular season varsity football game of the year.
For the past six years both high schools have used this game as a way to help battle hunger in the community. River View’s Letterman Club and Coshocton’s Key Club organize canned food drives at the high schools and football fans are encouraged to make a canned goods donation to the school of their choice when they enter the game.
“We try to pump up our football team the week before the game, but this lets us help other people and a cause outside of school,” said Ian Brinker, a junior at River View and secretary of the Letterman Club.
The canned goods collected at the game are given to local food pantries, but not before it is decided which school has the most donations.
“I think Coshocton won last year,” said Zack Carroll, a senior at River View and a member of the Letterman Club. “We had a lot of cans donated during the week, but Coshocton got more at the game.”
Jessica Clark, a senior at Coshocton and secretary of the Key Club said it was fun to beat River View, but the students know the canned food drive has a much deeper meaning.
“It’s about helping the community,” she said. “It’s always nice to beat a county rival, but it’s better to help the community.”
Clark said the students are well aware that there is a need in Coshocton.
“Being in Coshocton, in the center of the community, I think we see the need more and we have a more diverse student population,” she said. “People may not think there are hungry or homeless people here, but that is not the case. Coshocton does have a need and by doing this we aren’t just beating a rival, we are doing something for the greater good that helps the community. Plus the community does a lot for the high school so it’s nice for us to be able to give back.”
Both Brinker and Carroll encourage students and fans to participate in the canned food drive.
“It’s not hard to grab a couple of cans from your house,” Carroll said. “Most people have something around that they aren’t using. As long as it’s not dented we will take it.”
Right now it is only high school students who collect the week of the game, but Ryan Hendershot, Letterman Club advisor, would like to see the whole district take part in the contest in the future. He also wants to find a way to recognize the winning school.
“I hope we can keep expanding this,” he said. “It’s a great idea that I think we can make even bigger.”
While River View would like to win the canned food battle, the students know the contest is about more than bragging rights.
“It’s not about us winning,” Carroll said. “Either way it’s all for a good cause and I’ll be happy that we helped a lot of people.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: High School, Sports
