Western Pa. Athletes Compete to Aid Pittsburgh Food Bank

High School Athletes in Pittsburgh Turn Competition into a Cause

Armstrong Jr/Sr High School athletes are using their competitive energy to make a positive impact on their community. Instead of focusing solely on sports, they're channeling their drive into a food drive aimed at supporting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. This initiative is not just about winning; it's about giving back and making a difference.

The plan involves hosting eleven food drive events over the course of two weeks. The goal is to collect as much food and donations as possible, with the school competing against other high schools in the area. This friendly rivalry has sparked enthusiasm among students, who are eager to contribute to a worthy cause.

A History of Success

Armstrong Jr/Sr High School has a strong track record in this annual event. Over the past three years, the school has won the competition for collecting the most food and donations, twice in the 5A category and once in the 6A category. This success has inspired current students to continue the tradition of helping others.

Max Zablocki, a senior at Armstrong, shared his thoughts on the initiative: "I think it's great. I think it's what really drives a lot of us. We're all athletes who are in the committee, and I think that really drives a lot of us to try hardest."

Amelia Bissell, a junior at the same school, added: "Not having that sense of stability, it makes me feel sad for the people that don't really have that, and that drives me to want to help them more."

A Community Effort

The food bank has created a competition for high schools to see who can bring in the most food and money. Everything is handled online, making it easier for students to participate. Schools compete against each other based on class categories, with Armstrong facing off against Central Catholic and other 6A schools.

Danny Haller, a senior at Central Catholic High School, said: "It's always nice to help others, helping them and making the world a better place is always a good thing."

Jennifer Zgurich, the Corporate and Community Giving Director, emphasized the importance of school involvement: "Right now we need all the help we can get. We need everybody to get involved. It's really about the power of each person, and every person has the ability to make a difference."

A Growing Movement

This is the fifth year that high schools have participated in the Food and Fund Drive organized by the food bank. Over the years, the combined efforts of these schools have resulted in approximately 329,000 meals for the community. Despite the scale of the initiative, only 20 schools out of the 150 in WPIAL and City League have taken part so far.

Christian Williams, a senior at Central Catholic, shared his perspective: "You're always going to get that fulfilling aspect, where it's like you really feel good about knowing what you did for your community and others that aren't as fortunate as you."

Allie Panchik, a senior at Armstrong, added: "People that are less fortunate should get to live the life that the rest of us live. This is a really good thing that our community can do."

How You Can Help

Throughout the day, the school will be asking neighbors to join in the Day of Giving and fight hunger by supporting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. There are two ways to donate:

• Text "4HUNGER" to 50155
• Give online at http://pittsburghfoodbank.org/4hunger

For more information about the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, visit their website.

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