Gullett and McNeal elementary schools face off

Who would win a confrontation between a Wildcat and an Alligator?

The B.D. Gullett Elementary Gators and the Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary Wildcats will find out when they see which school can collect more canned food for the Salvation Army.

The annual food drive prompts the schools to gather nonperishables items.

"We usually put a bin outside and take donations," said McNeal Elementary Media Specialist Renee Litzenberger. "Making it a competition makes it more fun."

Litzenberger issued a friendly challenge last week to Gullett Principal Shirin Gibson.

"Challenge accepted," Gibson said. "I'm a competitive person and I play to win."

This is the first year the two schools are competing.

Litzenberger came up with the idea after seeing that Gullett collected just 25 cans more than McNeal's 800 donations received last year. The Salvation Army keeps a list of how many items each school collected the previous year.

"I thought, we can definitely collect more than their 825," Litzenberger said. "I think we're creating a friendly rivalry here."

If you are a Gator or Wildcat parent, you can help either school by bringing canned food donations and dropping them off at the school by Nov. 13.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].