PICKENS — The seventh annual Meals on Wheels Sam Wyche Food Fight Bowl, presented by Save-A-Lot of Pickens, will take place at the Pickens High School stadium on Friday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m.

Since 1923, Pickens and Easley have enjoyed a rivalry that is widely known as one of the fiercest high school rivalries in South Carolina. On the night of the big game, the football teams will compete for ownership of the coveted “Food Fight Bowl” trophy, a prestigious award made from the top of coach Sam Wyche’s 1988 NFL Coach of the Year trophy. Easley has proven itself a winner on the field over the last three years.

Last year, first-year Green Wave coach Grayson Howell secured his first win in the rivalry. Pickens and Easley are tied 3-3 on the field in the first six years of the Food Fight Bowl.

The event will begin with a pre-game check presentation by presenting sponsor, Save-A-Lot Food Store of Pickens. For a third straight year, the grocery store will add $5,000 to the school’s combined fundraising totals, aiding them in their support of Pickens County Meals on Wheels.

“We are committed to giving back to the communities in which we operate, offering quality foods and customer savings to both Pickens and Easley shoppers,” said Dwayne Goodwin, president and CEO of Goodwin Holdings Group, which operates the Pickens Save-A-Lot store.

In 2008, the Meals on Wheels Food Fight Bowl was designed to harness the rivalry between Easley and Pickens into a signature fundraising event for Pickens County Meals on Wheels.

In its six-year history, Easley and Pickens High Schools have competed for rights to the “Ultimate Food Fight” trophy by raising money for Meals on Wheels.

Pickens High School has proven itself a tough competitor with its 5-0-1 record off the field. Since its inception, the event has grown to be the largest fundraising event for Pickens County Meals on Wheels, having raised a total of $156,604, the equivalent of 31,321 meals.

This year, the competition will change, as all four Pickens County high schools — Daniel, Easley, Liberty and Pickens — compete for rights to the “Ultimate Food Fight” trophy.

Student bodies from Daniel, Easley, Liberty and Pickens will have until 4 p.m. Sept. 19 to meet their fundraising goals. The school that raises the most money will be awarded the rotating “Ultimate Food Fight” trophy and bragging rights at half-time of its next home game.

According to Pickens County Meals on Wheels director Meta Bowers, this year’s fundraising goal is $30,000, the equivalent of 6,000 meals. Students have been aided in their fundraising efforts thanks to Save-A-Lot and corporate partners like Verizon, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler and the Fee family, South Carolina Bank and Trust and Gwinn’s Tire. To date, each school has been credited with $3,125 toward its fundraising goal.

“We are excited about the changes to this year’s event,” Bowers said. “The students are always so creative and do a tremendous job. All the money raised will stay here in Pickens County and will be used to feed and care for our seniors.”

According to Bowers, between now and Sept. 18, students can earn credit toward their goal by collecting donations, holding special events, volunteering at Meals on Wheels, and/or collecting specific goods for emergency meal packages that will go out to clients later this fall.

“Meals on Wheels and its team of caring volunteers play a critical role in feeding and caring for the elderly and disabled in Pickens County,” said Sam Wyche, a former NFL coach and event founder. “Volunteers and donations are always needed. We can’t do this important work without the support of the community.”

By supporting your team, you will provide a cure for hunger, loneliness and isolation for seniors all across Pickens County. Make a donation today online at www.pcmow.org, or mailing a check to Pickens County Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 184, Easley, SC 29641. Call Bowers at (864) 855-3770, ext. 303, or email meta@pcmow.org with any questions.

Pickens County Meals on Wheels is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization funded completely through grants and donations from individuals, churches, church organizations, businesses, civic groups, and the United Way, relying entirely on the generosity of the community it serves.