“Support our community:” OU Food Pantry is soliciting donations as part of the annual Red River Food Fight

A week before the start of the Red River rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas, members of the OU Food Pantry are asking for support in a friendly competition with their rival school.

Both the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas combat food insecurity with an annual competition, the Red River Food Fight, to grow the most shelf-stable food before the big game.

According to the OU Food Pantry, Oklahoma is among the top 10 hungriest states, and one in two students on campus experience food insecurity.

According to the pantry, 500 to 600 students come through its doors each week, and that number increases each month.

With only two days left in the competition, the OU Food Pantry hopes fans will flood the shelves with donations.

“This is a big deal,” said Royce Coleman, student director of the OU Food Pantry. “OU is a highly food insecure campus, which is why it is so important to find ways to enable our students, staff and faculty to support our community.”

OU won the competition in 2023, raising over £5,000 in donations.

Saturday is the last day to donate, but you can donate food on campus or through the OU Food Pantry wish list on Amazon here.

The winner will be announced next Saturday, the same day the Sooners and Longhorns take the field at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.