Peninsula And Gig Harbor High Compete To Gather Food For Charity

GIG HARBOR, WA — Peninsula High and Gig Harbor High are competing to see which high school can gather the most donations to help hungry children in need, and they're off to a running start.

Each year the Peninsula School District puts on the Food Bowl, a weeks-long competition challenging students to gather as many food donations as they can. Donations go to support Food Backpacks 4 Kids, a Gig Harbor-based nonprofit that feeds hungry children and their families.

The first week of the 2021 Food Bowl has passed, but the race remains incredibly tight with just 35 food items separating the two schools: Peninsula High has a slight edge with 1,462 items donated, compared to Gig Harbor High's 1,427 donations.

The district says donations can be dropped off any time during regular school hours. Schools are out Friday due to the pandemic, but donors can also drop off items Friday mornings as long as they're dropped off by 9 a.m. at Gig harbor High and 10 a.m. at Peninsula High School.

Food Backpacks 4 Kids was founded in 2009 to support struggling children in the Key Peninsula in Gig Harbor. Organizers say in the 12 years since they were founded, they've given out more than one million pounds of food, and 7,000 pounds of food to local families each week. They also give out 300 backpacks filled with over 10 pounds of food every week that school is in session.

You can learn more about their mission and how to get involved at their website, www.foodbackpacks4kids.org.

Patch has teamed with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.