It’s not the first time the Richland Rams and the Forest Hills Rangers have faced off, and it won’t be the last.  This time they aren’t challenging each other on the football field or the basketball court, but to help improve the community.

The parents of both schools are “all smiles” right now.

“Forest Hills is always a rivalry with us, so it’s a little friendly competition,” says Richland Elementary PTO President, Andi Cveykus.

Each school means business though when it comes to defeating their rival.

“We think the Rams will be eating Ranger subs that day,” Danielle Russell, the Forest Hills Elementary PTO president says.

The two school districts, including the parents, administrators, and students, are going head to head to see who can donate more to the local food banks.  They say they hope to help them restock after the busy holiday season.

“All of our pantries are low,” says Russell.  “I think this is a good time to focus on that and do good for the local pantries.”

The donations from Forest Hills will go to local pantries within the school district.  One pantry alone said they serve 126 families.  Richland’s donations will help Saint Vincent DePaul’s Food for Families program.

When the competition wraps up each school will weigh their items that they donated.  The loser has to wear their rival’s colors for a day.

“Just the other day one of the little kiddos in the elementary school said I am not wearing red and blue, I can not do it,” says Russell.

Cveykus tells us administrators have also become part of the competition, ” The superintendents and principals I believe are going to serve the winning school lunch on a certain day.”

Each school has roughly 1,600 students, providing them with an even playing field for the competition.

The competition ends February 12.  There are drop-off locations inside each school.