Low donations, and high demand at the Yuma Community Food Bank

FOX 9's Adam Klepp reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - At the Yuma community food bank, utility rivals competed in a new way.

With APS, and Southwest Gas, looking to see which company can help locals in need more.

“There’s so much energy behind our teams coming into this," Brittney Schmidt from Southwest Gas said

Danny Ortega says APS is undefeated.

“We’re real excited. We’re undefeated at this time. So we’re looking to bring the trophy home,” Ortega said.

The smack talk is all for a good cause.

Especially as the Yuma Food Bank is looking to fill their shelves, and feed the community.

Food bank CEO Shara Whitehead says along with a lack of donations, more locals are showing up.

“We’re starting to see more and more people who have never had to come to the food bank show up here,” Whitehead said.

Michelle Merkley, the food bank’s Chief Operating Officer, says the lack of donations, and the increase in need, is due to the economy.

“If they can save $50 at the grocery by coming here, use the other money to buy gas…pay bills, thats what they’re going to do,” Merkley said.

Making events like this that much more essential.

“We’re here to get bags ready for those who need the food," Ortega said.

“Leading up to this event we had a whole month of food collection,” Schmidt said.

In the final bag tally, APS stays undefeated with 29 bins filled with bags, Southwest Gas with 27.

But in the food drive leading up to the competition, Southwest Gas collected 853 pounds of food, with APS donating 395 pounds.

The Yuma Food Bank encourages more companies, and the community to come out, volunteer, and donate what they can during these tough times.