Red Bank Regional students Liam Joyce, Jack Navitsky and Devon Barnes (all from Shrewsbury) display the food collections made in honor of the big Thanksgiving Day football Game of RBR versus Long Branch. Anyone attending the game will receive free admittance if they bring non-perishable food  items at the game entrance.

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

A new tradition will meet the old, as football fans who donate a non-perishable food item will receive free admission to the football game between Red Bank Regional High School and Long Branch High School this Thanksgiving. The traditional matchup — one of the longest-running in the Shore area — will take place on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Kickoff is at 10 am at RBR, and all who donate—parents, children, students, RBR fans, Long Branch fans — will get in for free.

All the food collected will be donated to the Salvation Army of Red Bank, an organization that assists people in over 30 area towns, explained English teacher Cassandra Dorn, who helped initiate RBR’s fifth Football Food Drive.

“The game-related drive is a great way to come together as a community, not only to root on our favorite teams but to reach out to those in need,” said Dorn. “The Thanksgiving game is a fantastic tradition in this area, and we’re trying to establish a new tradition that combines fun, great football, and caring for our neighbors.”

A similar food drive at a previous game this season gathered over 350 pounds of food, which was donated to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.