BETHEL — Jeff Peterson of WGME 13 visited Telstar Regional Middle/High School on Tuesday morning to get students excited about the upcoming televised pep rally showcasing their school spirit and contributions to the community.

The School Spirit Challenge is a friendly competition among seven Maine schools to  raise money and collect food for the Good Shepherd Food Bank and local food pantries.

This is the fourth year of the challenge, which is sponsored by Maine credit unions. This is the first year Telstar is participating.

Other challengers are Fryeburg Academy, Cheverus High School in Portland, Richmond High School, Carrabassett Valley Academy, Mount View High School in Thorndike and Oceanside High School in Rockland.

CBS 13 News and FOX23 will feature a different school every Friday on “Good Day Maine” from Jan. 20 to March 3. The finale will be held March 10.

Food donations will be weighed, and monetary donations will equal 5 pounds for every dollar. The school with the most weight will win. 

“So monetary donations are actually more beneficial,” Telstar secretary Leann Caruso said.

Telstar Regional High School Principal Cheryl Lang and Middle School Principal Mark Kenney encouraged students to bring in heavier items, such as bottled water, kitty litter and laundry detergent, Peterson said.

Last year’s winner, Erskine Academy, had more than 80,000 pounds.

So far, Sunday River ski area has pledged $2,000, which will equal 10,000 pounds. In the coming weeks, high school class officers will coordinate donation requests for local businesses.

“A lot of these small, local businesses can’t afford to buy television time, so this is a way to get some publicity on the air,” Peterson said. All major donors will be mentioned during the televised rally.

Fryeburg Academy’s rally is scheduled from 6 to 8 a.m. Jan. 27.

Telstar’s rally is from 6 to 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, which will kick off its Winter Carnival Week at the school.

“We want to get Telstar trending (on social media) in New England,” Peterson said. “We want you live-streaming on Facebook. We want you tweeting and taking selfies with your friends.”

Over 200,000 Mainers are “food insecure,” meaning they aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from. The school spirit challenge, Peterson said, will benefit those in need.

emarquis@sunmediagroup.net