By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Beginning the week after Thanksgiving, the Helena Elementary and Helena Intermediate School bus drivers will challenge each other in a friendly donation drive for a good cause.

Starting Monday, Nov. 27, through Friday, Dec. 8, bus drivers at both schools will compete in the “Bus Driver Challenge.”

The point of the challenge is to see which riders can collect the most food in a drive to benefit Backpack Buddies, a local nonprofit whose mission is to help fight childhood hunger and help families in crisis.

During the two-week challenge, boxes will be set up on each bus where riders may place their food items.

Recommended items for the challenge include soups, sugar, ramen, tuna, flour, rice, macaroni and cheese, beans, corn meal or biscuit or cornbread packets.

The head bus driver taking the lead for the challenge is John Rodgers, who drives bus 05-04.

“The bus drivers are doing this all on their own,” Helena Elementary School Assistant Principal Holly Laney said of the challenge.

Each food item collected will count as one point for the driver of the bus. After the two weeks is complete, the winning students and driver will be recognized by the schools.

Both schools are encouraging parents to help by sending their child with food for the challenge. Any excess food collected will be donated to a local food bank.