High school food collection contest to include volunteer hours this season
For the past five years, area high schools have competed against one another during football season to emerge with the heaviest collection of food to benefit those in need within the community.
This year, teens are facing a new challenge. For the first time in the competition’s history, students at all five Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) comprehensive campuses will be able to rack up points toward their school’s total by volunteering time at participating nonprofit organizations.
According to a YUHSD news release, while the promotion will still center on a Friday night football game and non-perishable food collection on each campus, students more inclined to donate their time will now have an opportunity to participate.
“After five years of only collecting food during the week of select football games, we thought it was time to expand the reach of the competition,” YUHSD Director of Communications Eric Patten said in a statement. “There are so many organizations around Yuma who are committed to helping the community and with a large number of our students focused on volunteerism, it seemed appropriate to find a way to lend a hand.”
The YUHSD release states that participating organizations include: Boys & Girls Club, the Children’s Museum, Crossroads Mission, Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society of Yuma, Precious Treasures Mission, and Sunrise Rotary.
YUHSD officials noted that the event remains centered on weekly football matchups, with each YUHSD campus hosting one Food Bowl game, including San Luis High School’s annual Sugar Bowl.
Every year, the collection of non-perishable food items takes place in the week leading up to the game with student councils and school leadership promoting and collecting goods.
Members of the public who attend games are also encouraged to bring canned goods.
The YUHSD release shows that all food proceeds will be weighed and delivered to the Crossroads Mission.
Additionally, the school that tips the scale with the heaviest collection of food will be presented with a trophy during a party at Da Boyz Italian Restaurant downtown at the end of October.
“However, the volunteer hours will help determine the winner,” YUHSD officials say. “For each student hour volunteered, a school will earn three ‘pounds’ of food towards their total. All hours must be submitted as an approved school club activity with volunteer opportunities only taking place after school and the weekend.”
In total, the release states that the Food Bowl has generated more than 30,000 pounds of food in its previous five years.
For more information, call YUHSD at 928-502-4600.