Pickens Wins Food Fight Bowl Fundraising Competition

Each member of a fierce football rivalry earned two different wins tonight at Pickens, one off the field, one on the field.

Pickens High School students won the Food Fight Bowl competition tonight, a battle between Pickens and Easley students to see who could raise the most money for Pickens County Meals on Wheels.

The student bodies of both schools learned who had raised the most money in this year’s competition during halftime at the Easley vs. Pickens game.

Once again, Pickens students earned bragging rights, raising $23,571 for the cause. 

Easley High School raised $9,361.

The two schools tied last year, each raising $30,000 for Pickens County Meals on Wheels.

Other than the tie last year, Pickens has won the Food Fight Bowl fundraising challenge each year.

“I think it’s a great cause for our community, to be able to provide food for people who might not otherwise have food,” said Superintendent Dr. Kelly Pew. “I think with school not even being in session, it really is a true testimony to how important (the cause) is for our students.”

Pew said helping raise money for Meals on Wheels probably opens some students’ eyes.

“Some many probably take it for granted that they have food at every meal,” Pew said. “For them, in such a competitive way to raise the kind of food that they did for this event is outstanding.”

Meta Bowers, Executive Director of Pickens County Meals, said the fund raised by the students will fund two Meals on Wheels routes for an entire year.

With meals and expenses factored in, it costs $5 a day, $20 per week, $100 per month, or $1,200 per year to feed one person, Bowers said.

The money will help the local Meals on Wheels program continue to provide hot meals, delivered by friendly, caring folks to area shut-ins. 

“This year, we eliminated our waiting list for the first time in my knowledge,” Bowers said. “This will go to continue that, so that we can continue to serve people who need us when they need us.

“We do 230 meals every day right now,” Bowers said. “This year we’ve already reached 455 people. That’s 21 percent more people than last year.  

If you’re interested in helping Meals on Wheels, trainings for volunteers are held every week, Thursday mornings at 9:30am at the PC MOW office on Pendleton Street in Easley.

“We can’t do what we do without funding and volunteers,” Bowers said. “They can come, learn more about Meals on Wheels and hopefully help out with driving or in some other way.” 

But while Easley may have been outmatched in fundraising, they weren’t outmatched on the field, beating the Blue Flame 40-7.

The Green Wave wasn't scored upon until late in the game.  

For raising the most money in the competition, Pickens High will keep the Ultimate Food Fight Bowl trophy for a year. 

The Green Wave will take the Food Fight Bowl trophy home to their new school and display it until the two rivals meet again next year.