After rainfall canceled the Peninsula Oilers game that was meant to cap off the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s King of the River food drive, the competition has been extended to the end of the month.
As of Wednesday, updated numbers from the food bank showed Kenai leading by around 5,000 pounds.
The food drive, a competition between the cities of Kenai and Soldotna that debuted last year, challenges the two communities to outdo one another in donating nonperishable food or money.
In addition to the bragging rights, the winning city’s mayor will throw the opening pitch at a Peninsula Oilers game. That game was originally set for July 12, but the pitch — as well as free admission and free hotdogs served up by local representatives — will now happen at the July 31 game starting at 6 p.m.
“This is good news for our neighbors on the peninsula, because it gives our communities more time to raise food and funds for them,” the food bank announced on Facebook.
Food and money can be donated at the food bank — be sure to note which city the donation is coming from — or at either the Kenai or Soldotna chambers of commerce. Donations will be accepted for the competition until July 26 at 4 p.m.
After donations opened on July 5, the food bank reported each day through July 10 that defending champion Soldotna had a healthy lead. An update on July 16 — the first in nearly a week and the first after the contest was expanded — showed Kenai with nearly 25,000 pounds of food donated, outpacing Soldotna’s 20,000. On Wednesday, July 17, Soldotna had inched closer, but Kenai was still up by 5,000 pounds.
The nearly 45,000 pounds of food donated this year already dwarfs the 37,000 pounds raised in last year’s competition.
The food bank has pointed to Jeff Dolifka and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula as driving sponsors of the food drive. They, together with the food bank and Oilers, will be providing free admission and hot dogs on July 31.
For more information, find “Kenai Peninsula Food Bank” on Facebook or visit kpfoodbank.org.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
