Aberdeen will defend title against Hoquiam in 2017 Food Ball showdown

Friendly competition to collect food and cash for local food banks kicks off Nov. 3

October 17, 2017 7:00 pm
The teams are ready to compete and benefit hungry families across the region with proceeds from the 2017 Food Bowl competition benefiting Coastal Harvest. Pictured kneeling or sitting from left, Jackson Folkers, Alex Houbregs and Jessica Goulet (Hoquiam). Standing from left are Brendan King, Bailee Green, Patric Haerle and Nadia Wirta (Aberdeen). To their left standing are Hoquiam’s Sean McAllister, Loghan Hurley, Maya Jump, with Lucy Roloff at the end.Standing at the center in the back row is Coastal Harvest Executive Director Angela Burton.
The teams are ready to compete and benefit hungry families across the region with proceeds from the 2017 Food Bowl competition benefiting Coastal Harvest. Pictured kneeling or sitting from left, Jackson Folkers, Alex Houbregs and Jessica Goulet (Hoquiam). Standing from left are Brendan King, Bailee Green, Patric Haerle and Nadia Wirta (Aberdeen). To their left standing are Hoquiam’s Sean McAllister, Loghan Hurley, Maya Jump, with Lucy Roloff at the end.Standing at the center in the back row is Coastal Harvest Executive Director Angela Burton.

Lace ‘em up. Aberdeen High School will try to defend its 2016 title against Hoquiam High School when the 2017 Food Ball competition kicks off Nov. 3.

At last year’s weigh in, hundreds of students waited outside at Grays Harbor PUD headquarters, where the totals are tallied. Both schools had their mascots with them; that’s how a winner is announced, the school mascot bursts outside with arms raised in victory. Last year it was an Aberdeen Bobcat that emerged. It was the first time in seven years. Aberdeen collected a total of 8,011 pounds of food to Hoquiam’s 4,262. For each dollar each school collected, another 10 pounds was added to its total weight; $68,276.57 for Aberdeen, $58,696.48 for Hoquiam. Put together, Aberdeen had 690,776 pounds, while Hoquiam had 591,226.

The food collected is distributed by Coastal Harvest to food banks across the region, so, as the students say each year, there is no loser in Food Ball.

Aberdeen will again be led by ASB adviser Ashley Kohlmeier. There’s been a change in advisers at Hoquiam, with Bonnie Jump handing the reins to new ASB adviser Clark Davis, who will be assisted by Charlotte Helland.

This year’s kickoff meeting was held Oct. 11, and schedules for both schools have been released, with the final weigh-in scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 13, at PUD headquarters in Aberdeen. Schedules are split into two areas: canvassing, in which students go to various businesses in the area to solicit food and cash donations, and events, which include restaurant takeovers (where the students work at area restaurants to earn donations) and various sporting events, carnivals and other fundraisers.

Aberdeen events

Nov. 3, Carnival at Aberdeen High School, 5:30-9 p.m.

Nov. 4, Community softball at San Benn Gym, noon to 3 p.m. Food Ball dinner and dancing, 6-10 p.m., Aberdeen High School commons.

Nov. 5, Community blitz (all-day door-to-door canvassing), 10 a.m. at the high school.

Nov. 6, Muscle Beach volleyball at Sam Benn Gym, 5-8 p.m.

Nov. 7, Mazatlan takeover, 5-8 p.m.

Nov. 8, Aberdeen McDonalds takeover, 5-8 p.m.

Nov. 9, Dinner and game night, Aberdeen High School commons, 5-10 p.m.

Nov. 10, No scheduled events in honor of Veterans Day.

Nov. 11, Denny’s takeover, 4-8 p.m. Rock ‘n’ Bowl at Rainier Lanes, 9-11 p.m.

Hoquiam events

Nov. 3, Grizzly Den takeover, 5-8 p.m.

Nov. 4, Casa Mia dinner at 6 p.m., Elks auction at 7 p.m.

Nov. 5, Football luncheon at the high school, 1-3 p.m.

Nov. 6, Volleyball tournament at Hoquiam High School gym at 6 p.m.

Nov 7, Hoquiam McDonalds takeover, 5-8 p.m.

Nov. 8, Community energy ball tournament at the high school gym, 6 p.m.

Nov. 9, Domino’s takeover, 3-7 p.m.

Nov. 10, No scheduled events in honor of Veterans Day.

Nov. 11, Central School Carnival and Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nov. 12, HHS Amazing Race, 10 a.m. at the school.

Aberdeen canvassing schedule

Nov. 3, Walmart 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Bi-Mart 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Ross 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Swanson’s 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Nov. 4, Bi-Mart 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Ross, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Swanson’s 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Safeway 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 5, Walmart 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Bi-Mart 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Ross 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Swanson’s 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 6-8, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bi-Mart, Ross, Swanson’s and Safeway.

Nov 9, Swanson’s and Walmart 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Bi-Mart 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Ross 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Nov. 10, Bi-Mart 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Ross and Swanson’s 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Safeway 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 11, Walmart, Ross and Swanson’s 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Bi-Mart 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Nov. 12, Bi-Mart 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Ross, Swanson’s and Safeway 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hoquiam canvassing schedule

Nov. 3, Safeway 3-10 p.m.

Nov. 4, Walmart 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Nov 5, Safeway 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 6, Walmart 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 7, Safeway 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 8, Walmart 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nov. 9, Safeway 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Nov. 10, Walmart, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Nov. 11, Safeway 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Nov. 12, Swanson’s 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Walmart 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.