Riverview, Springdale high school students collecting canned goods for 'Souper Bowl'

Students at Riverview High School in Oakmont and their rivals across the Allegheny River at Springdale Junior-Senior High School are competing to collect canned goods for their respective food banks.

The “Souper Bowl” kicked off Feb. 16.

Riverview’s student council and Students Against Destructive Decisions group have a donation box at 100 Hulton Road.

Its soups and nonperishables will be donated to the Verona United Methodist Church.

Springdale’s The Future is Mine student group has a donation box at 501 Butler Road.

Its food will be given to an Allegheny Valley food pantry.

“I think it’s a good competition,” said Riverview junior Gracie Flanick. “Both of the schools have both competed against each other for quite some time now. I think a friendly competition that does good for both communities is fun and interesting.”

Gracie said the first day of collections went well, and she hopes to see more come in once the word gets out about the contest.

“We don’t have an exact goal (for donations), but the goal is to beat Springdale,” the SADD treasurer said.

Audio/video students at their respective schools are expected to have a “halftime report” on Feb. 26 updating everyone on the collection effort and inspiring them through the next week or two.

Donations will be collected through at least March 5, with the final score revealed and food distributed March 12.

The principal of the school with the least amount collected will have to wear the opposing school’s jersey for at least a day. Other winning stipulations are to be determined.

The competition has put Riverview English teacher and student council sponsor Michelle Walsh in a bit of a pickle. She lives in Springdale and her daughter, Isabella, is a soccer player for the Dynamos.

“I don’t know how this is going to go,” Walsh said. “I hope it’s really big.”

Walsh said she plans to donate to both causes equally and tries to remain a neutral party except when it comes to her daughter’s soccer games.

“There’s a rich history of rivalry between these two (schools),” Walsh said. “Hopefully, we’ll get everyone involved and help out people.”

Walsh said students from both schools have not been permitted to travel to sporting events due to the pandemic.

“Before covid last year, we tried to get a group of students from both schools to get a club together so both schools and their student sections for games can be more inclusive and (friendlier) with each other,” Isabella said. “This is our first try trying to get that after covid.

“Even though there’s a rivalry, we’re both trying to work together for the greater good and raise food for the food banks. It’s nice getting the community and the schools involved with each other.”

The canned food drive is not the first off-the-field or off-the-court competition the two high schools have had within the past few months.

Students at the schools in December had a stocking stuffer competition to help the homeless.

More information about the canned food drive will be available at rsd.k12.pa.us and avsdweb.org.