Old rivals unite to fight common enemy
Staff writer
Rivals of old, Warriors and Trojans will put their differences aside and unite to battle a common enemy within the county: Hunger.
USD 408 and USD 410 schools recently agreed to take part in a Marion vs. Hillsboro Fight to Knockout Hunger food drive.
The friendly competition was conceived as a way to help eliminate hunger in the county, according to Gerry Henderson, chairman of Marion County Food Bank and Resource Center.
“This county has a lot of poor and hungry people,” Henderson said. “The need has grown and the support has grown along with it.”
Henderson said the idea for the food drive grew out of the fact that the two schools are playing each other again in football for the first time in years.
The food drive’s kickoff will coincide with the Marion/Hillsboro football game Friday at Warrior Stadium in Marion.
USD 408 Superintendents Lee Leiker said Marion schools are still formulating their food drive strategy, while Hillsboro High School Principal Clint Corby said he could not share his school’s secret strategy.
However, both officials expressed their excitement at the idea of a friendly competition.
“Even though it’s in Marion, many Hillsboro residents use the county food bank, too,” Corby said. “It’s good anytime we can work together for the greater good. People naturally want to help. I think the kids are going to get behind it.”
Leiker echoed a similar sentiment.
“The food bank has been a tremendous resource for the county,” Leiker said. “When we can take part in something that will help people, it’s nice to be able to help and take back in a friendly competition.”
Everyone in each community is encouraged to get involved.
Monetary donations will be accepted, too. Checks should be made payable to Marion County Food Bank and Resource Center with the school’s name in the memo.
The competition runs until Nov. 18, and the victor will be announced Nov. 22, but USD 408 wrote on social media, “…the true winners will be the neighbors we feed from the fight.”