Tackling Hunger: High School Football's Charitable Rivalry

As the high school football season in Missouri and Illinois reaches its midpoint, a friendly competition has emerged between two schools, Troy Buchanan and Timberland, to support a worthy cause – Tackle Hunger. While fans cannot donate food items at the Friday night games, they can contribute at their local Neighbors Credit Union locations, with the collected donations benefiting Operation Food Search.

Fueling the Fight Against Hunger, One Can at a Time

Rallying the Community for a Cause

The Tackle Hunger initiative has brought out the best in the students and communities of Troy Buchanan and Timberland high schools. At Troy Buchanan, senior spokespersons have been actively promoting the event, using banners and recruiting help from the local community. The school's senior cheerleader, Libby Besher, expressed the enthusiasm, saying, "Our school has really come together to support this, because food drives are a big thing in Troy. We do many of them throughout the school year, and we kind of have a rivalry with Timberland, so it makes it more fun."The students have taken to social media and other platforms to spread the word. Senior football player Jackson Trower shared, "We posted it kind of all over the place – social media, Barstool Sports, Chess Nation, Twitter." This multi-pronged approach has helped generate significant interest and participation from the student body and the broader community.

Timberland's Charitable Crusade

Across town, Timberland High School is also embracing the Tackle Hunger challenge with fervor. The student organizers say their campaign is going better than last year, with a range of promotional efforts. They have created posters, launched social media campaigns, and even made a plea during daily school announcements to encourage their peers to contribute.Senior Addison Crislip expressed the school's enthusiasm, saying, "It's going pretty good. We have had quite a bit of student body participation, which we're happy for." Junior Grant Beattie echoed this sentiment, noting, "We've had so many people come in. Even if it's just bringing a can or two, it all adds up."The Timberland community has rallied behind the cause, with even the students' parents getting involved. Senior Evee Northeis shared, "Even my parents said something about it. My friends from other schools were like, 'Oh, our school doesn't do that. Why are you guys doing it?' And I said, 'We're just like that. That's the thing we do.'"

Friendly Rivalry Fuels the Fight

The friendly rivalry between Troy Buchanan and Timberland has added an extra layer of excitement to the Tackle Hunger competition. Both schools are determined to outdo each other in their efforts to collect the most donations for Operation Food Search.This competitive spirit has translated into a surge of community engagement and a shared sense of purpose. The students are not only supporting a worthy cause but also fostering a sense of school pride and camaraderie.

Tracking the Donations, Celebrating the Impact

Operation Food Search plays a crucial role in the Tackle Hunger initiative, collecting and weighing the donations from each school on the Friday of the competition week. The results are then announced during the 10 p.m. sports segment on 5 On Your Side, providing a platform to celebrate the schools' efforts and the impact of their contributions.This public recognition not only highlights the success of the Tackle Hunger campaign but also inspires other schools to get involved. The friendly rivalry between Troy Buchanan and Timberland serves as a model for how high school sports can be leveraged to drive positive change in the community.As the Tackle Hunger competition continues, the students, faculty, and communities of Troy Buchanan and Timberland high schools remain committed to making a difference. Their collective efforts demonstrate the power of teamwork, community engagement, and a shared passion for tackling hunger in their local area.