SUPERMARKET SWEEP

For the second year in a row, the Kimball Food Pantry was the real winner at the Kimball Jr/Sr High School Supermarket Sweep contest on Friday.

Eight teams composed of two shoppers each scoured the Main Street Market for 70 specific, high-demand items ranging from 3 pounds of Joyfully Grown Gala Apples to Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies in a 13.1 ounce package.

The students had to obtain the correct brand, correct items, and the correct amount of all 70 items. The 70 items from each duo of shoppers was donated to the Kimball Food Pantry by sponsoring agent Clean Harbors, Inc., valued at over $250 per cart.

Some teams had a well orchestrated plan while other simply went with the flow. One team parked their basket, thus saving time and effort from dragging it all over the store while another team split the list in half with the divide and conquer mentality.

Each pair of students was representing their own "ranch," and their ranch chose them to be the quickest shoppers.

The winning students were on a team named Buffalo Ridge Ranch.

Last year, the teams were composed of four shoppers creating a bit more chaos than this year. With only two shoppers per team the shopping trip took more time but it was managed chaos.

Food Pantry director Chellie Autrey said, "It is fun to watch them."

Autrey said on her list she "had the Cheesy Does It, like the Velveeta, but I see all these people have the spray Cheesey Does It, but it is 8 ounces, so they have three of those in their carts."

The students used their creativity to complete the list.

Autrey said the items go pretty fast at the food pantry, especially right now just before Christmas. She said, "It is a great thing for the food pantry."