Tasked with packing 40,000 meals in 1.5 hours, Magnolia High School’s football team, cheerleaders, and drill team, accomplished more than just hype Thursday as part of what was deemed a “pep rally with a purpose” in advance of Tuesday’s first game of the season pitting the new-look Panthers against the Warren Lumberjacks.
A community pep rally was held Thursday evening at Panther Arena to preview and promote the game, but earlier that day, Arkansas BlueCross and BlueShield partnered with Hooten’s Arkansas Football -- the title presenters of the upcoming Kickoff Classic at SAU’s Wilkins Stadium -- to make the meal packing possible. The insurance company provided the “just add water” nonperishable food supply, and the Panther squads did the rest.
“After this afternoon, there is no doubt in my mind that you have hometown heroes right here in Magnolia,” said Rebecca Pittillo, Arkansas BlueCross and BlueShield regional executive for south Arkansas.
The task was not easy. The meal packing took place at MHS’ Panther Cafe’, where dozens of volunteers and Panther coaches, athletes, and groups frantically loaded bag after bag of food. To make matters worse, the huddled masses had no air conditioning to mitigate the 100-degree afternoon. At times, some opened to the doors to let the “cool” air from outside in.
“You want to talk about hot -- it was hot in that cafeteria,” said Panther Head Football Coach Mark King. “The air quit on us, but those kids didn’t quit.”
The meals funded by the insurance giant and packed by the Panthers will now go directly to local charities. The sealed food bags and boxes are set to be distributed among the Stewpot at First United Methodist Church, Columbia County Senior Meal Service, Southern Christian Mission shelter, and Compassion’s Foundation Inc.
“Today, you gave back, Pittillo added during her Thursday night pep rally address, “and I’m proud of you.”
To show gratitude for the Panthers’ efforts, BlueCross and BlueShield donated a $1,500 check to Magnolia High School.
“Your kids have already won today,” said Chad Hooten, owner of Hooten’s Arkansas Football during his time speaking at Thursday’s pep rally.
BlueCross and BlueShield employees also indicated that every school involved in the Hooten’s Kickoff Classics around the state -- Westside vs. Greene County Tech and Valley View vs. Osceola at Arkansas State University, Jonesboro on Aug. 26; and Rison vs. Prescott following Magnolia vs. Warren on Aug. 27 at SAU -- also took part in their own meal packing challenges to benefit their own local charities.