Football to feed the hungry

High school teams compete to raise money for local food bank

The Murdoch MacKay Clansmen will be tackling something other than just opponents when they play the Kildonan East Reivers in an exhibition football game this week.

The two Winnipeg High School Football League teams will go head-to-head in the first annual Vocational Bowl on May 15 at 3 p.m. at East Side Eagles Stadium on Concordia Avenue.

Murdoch MacKay representatives will be collecting money and boxes of Kraft Dinner at the game. All donations collected at the game will go to the Transcona Food Bank on Yale Avenue.

“We’re not here to solve world hunger, but to raise awareness and help our own,” said Ron Bresch, head coach of the Clansmen.

“It was just a no-brainer to give back.”

Bresch said he and his Reivers counterpart decided the two teams should do something a little different to wrap-up spring camp.

Besides helping out the local food bank, the game will give new players some valuable experience before the season begins this fall, Bresch said.

This will be the first game for 25 of the 42 players on Murdoch MacKay, he said.

First-year player Matthew Jamieson, 14, said he is both nervous and excited about the game.

“I’m getting some good practice in,” he said. “We’re going to have a good game.”

Brad Erratt, one of the captains for the Clansmen, said he’s planning on bringing a big box of Kraft Dinner to help the food bank.

“We have to get the word out to people about (helping the hungry),” he said.

Bob Buchanan, volunteer chair of the Transcona Food Bank, said he was impressed by the generosity of the players and coaches.

“To me, it’s kind of moving when people take time out of their everyday lives to help people in need,” he said.

Buchanan said the increase in food donations will be a huge help in assisting larger families.

“It will be nice to be able to give out more. When we have a lot, we’re able to do that, but it’s not that often that we do,” Buchanan said.

Admission to the game is $1 or a box of Kraft Dinner.