Food Ball events kick off this week

After a record-breaking 2017, Aberdeen and Hoquiam high school students are hoping to keep pace with food and cash collections for local families in need as the 2018 Food Ball competition kicks off Friday.

The Bobcats took the title last year, their second in a row, collecting 9,100 pounds of food, another 1,040 pounds from the sale of Safeway grocery bags, and cash and checks totaling more than $76,000. The Grizzlies brought in 3,550 pounds of food and 1,170 of the Safeway food bags for a total food weight of 4,720 pounds. They also collected $64,351.42 in cash.

As always, the real winners of the friendly competition are the needy families in the area. The food collected goes to Coastal Harvest for distribution to food banks across the county, locations chosen by the students.

Students from both schools will begin canvassing Friday; you’ll see them standing in front of area businesses collecting cash, checks and of course non-perishable food items. A variety of events will take place, from community carnivals to sporting events and restaurant take-overs, where students earn donations through working at local eateries.

This all leads to the weigh-in Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. at the Grays Harbor PUD. The winner will be announced by the winning school’s mascot emerging from the building.

Hoquiam schedule

Friday, Nov. 2: Kick-off canvasing on Karr and Eklund avenues; canvasing at Walmart, 3-10 p.m.; Grizzly Den takeover, 5-8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 3: Auction and chicken teriyaki dinner in the high school student center, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. auction; canvasing Safeway 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 4: Food Ball luncheon at the high school, 1-3 p.m.; canvasing at Walmart 10-8 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 5: Community energy ball tournament at the high school gym, 5:30 p.m.; canvasing at Safeway 3-8 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 6: McTakeover at Hoquiam McDonald’s, 5-8 p.m.; canvasing at Walmart 3-8 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 7: Community basketball tournament at the high school gym, 5:30 p.m.; canvasing at Safeway 3-8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8: Domino’s take-over, 3-7 p.m.; canvasing at Walmart 3-8 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 9: Glow-in-the-dark dance at the high school, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.; canvasing at Safeway, 3-10 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10: Carnival at the high school, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; canvasing at Walmart 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 11: Bailout, canvasing at Swanson’s, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; canvasing at Safeway 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 12: Veteran’s Day, no events; canvasing at Walmart, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 13: Weigh-in at PUD, 5 p.m.

Aberdeen schedule

Friday, Nov. 2: Aberdeen’s Got Talent at the high school Auditorium, 6 p.m., $5 admission.

Saturday, Nov. 3: Storefront Canvassing at: Bi-Mart, Swanson’s, Ross, Walmart, Dennis Co., Rite Aid, Dollar Tree, Jay’s Farm Stand, Comcast.

Sunday, Nov, 4: Community Blitz (door to door canvassing), meet at Aberdeen High School, 9 a.m to 1 p.m.; Football game day 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the AHS Commons, $5 admission.

Monday, Nov. 5: McTakeover at Aberdeen McDonald’s 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 6: Muscle beach volleyball at Sam Benn Gym, 5 to 8 p.m., $5 admission.

Wednesday, Nov. 7: Mazatlan takeover, 5 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8: Community dodge ball at Aberdeen High School, 5 to 8 p.m., $5 per person.

Friday, Nov. 9: Denny’s takeover, 6 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10: Rock ‘n Bowl at Rainier Lanes, 9 to 11 p.m., $10 admission.

Sunday, Nov. 11: Community Blitz, meet at Aberdeen High School, 10 a.m.; AHS Student Dance, Robert Gray Elementary, 9 p.m. to midnight, $5 admission.

Monday, Nov. 12: Veterans Day, no events.

Tuesday, Nov. 13: Weigh-in at PUD, 5 p.m.