The Apple Cup rivalry is heating up again, and not just for the football game on Sunday, Sept. 6. For the third consecutive year, the Washington State University community is invited to join a friendly competition with the University of Washington to raise money for food pantries at both universities. The Apple Cup Food Pantry Challenge will benefit all six campuses at WSU.
Donations are being accepted now until midnight on Sunday, Sept. 6. Every donation counts as a gift, and the university with the most gifts will be celebrated at the conclusion of the competition. WSU has won the competition every year since it began in 2024.
The need to support students remains hi. Food pantries are experiencing increased demand in many communities, and the need is often amplified at universities. Two out of every five university students in Washington face food insecurity, according to a 2024 report by the Washington Student Achievement Council. These numbers are higher than the 2023 data that motivated students to propose the challenge. During the 2024-2025 academic year, WSU campuses collectively facilitated over 58,000 student visits.
Rallying all Cougs
Event organizers at WSU are casting a wide net encouraging faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the university to participate. New this year is an effort by the WSU Foundation to engage corporate Cougs — alumni who are working at major companies in Washington.
Hilary Bhagat, assistant director of corporate engagement, said many of them, like Microsoft and Boeing, have had official WSU alumni groups for quite some time, and the food pantry challenge provides a great opportunity to engage them with the university.
“I love a competition,” said Baghat, herself a WSU graduate. “This is a great opportunity to rally our corporate Cougs around something that will make a big impact on students.” She added that many companies have championed food insecurity initiatives in their communities and most of them can provide matching gifts.
In 2025, both universities raised $19,626 for their food pantries. Of that total, WSU received $12,677 from 113 gifts. Baghat is hopeful those numbers will increase this year.
“I like how the food pantry challenge leans into the Apple Cup rivalry in a non-football way,” Baghat said. “I’m excited to mobilize our dedicated corporate Cougs in this effort, and while I really want to see WSU come out on top again, this is a competition where everybody wins.”
Visit the food challenge website to make a donation and learn more about the competition.
