VERMILLION, S.D.—The Summit League Food Fight, an annual competition between league members founded by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), returns to Vermillion this week for several upcoming athletic events. The mission is for member schools to collect the most cash and food donations for their local food pantry.
 
With each $5 donation equaling 13 pounds of food in the competition, every donation makes an impact in the community and adds up quickly in the competition. The Summit League program that collects the most total pounds of food will win the Food Fight.
 
This year, USD's SAAC will be collecting donations from Jan. 25 through Feb. 7. Donations will be collected at all home basketball games during this time frame. Fans also have the opportunity to donate online at www.goyotes.com/SAACFoodFight. All donations collected by USD's SAAC will go directly to the Vermillion Food Pantry or Charlie's Cupboard. SAAC has set a goal of 10,000 lbs of food for the competition.
 
SAAC will also host the Cash for the Cupboard Pie Event on Feb. 3 at the women's basketball game vs. SDSU. USD Athletic Director Jon Schemmel along with USD staff members Jordan Bonstrom, Marcus Destin and Aimee Sorensen will be competing over the next two weeks to see who can collect the most donations for the other competitors. Those competitors with $100 or more in donations in their bucket will get a pie to the face during the third quarter of the Feb. 3 game. Please join in this friendly competition and let's see if we can get all four participants a pie.  

Support the Coyotes' effort to combat hunger in our community by donating here or at an upcoming Coyote basketball game. South Dakota student-athletes will be collecting food and cash donations at the following games in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center or DakotaDome:
 
Jan. 25 – Women's Basketball vs. Denver at 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 – Alumni Track & Field Meet in the DakotaDome at 10 a.m.
Jan. 27 – Women's Basketball vs. Kansas City at 2 p.m.
Jan. 27 – Alumni Track & Field Meet in the DakotaDome at 10 a.m.
Feb. 1 – Men's Basketball vs. North Dakota at 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 – Women's Basketball vs. South Dakota State at 6 p.m.