Showdown Series food drive to benefit Feeding South Dakota

The annual Showdown Series challenge between the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University continues on the basketball court and also in grocery aisles.

From Saturday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, March 2, Coyote and Jackrabbit fans will deposit food in barrels at seven Hy-Vee grocery stores in Sioux Falls as well as Hy-Vee stores in Brookings and Vermillion. All food that’s collected will be donated to Feeding South Dakota.

The food drive will conclude after basketball games between the men’s teams March 1 in Brookings and the women’s teams March 2 in Vermillion. Cash donations also can be made at the games or by calling Feeding South Dakota at 605-335-0364.

The drive is a partnership involving Coyote Sports Properties, Jackrabbit Sports Properties, Hy-Vee, Feeding South Dakota and South Dakota Corn, which sponsors the Showdown Series.

A similar drive held last November raised 35,360 pounds of food for Feeding South Daktoa, the state’s largest hunger-relief organization. That food provided 29,467 meals.

The Showdown Series is a yearlong athletics and academic competition between the state’s two NCAA Division I universities.

Food will be distributed locally through food banks and pantries. Items that are collected in Brookings and Vermillion will be given out through food pantries operated by local churches.

To track the Showdown Series standings, visit sdcornshowdown.com