Orange Bowl teams help feed needy families

Buckeyes, Tigers volunteer at Feeding South Florida

WEST PARK, Fla. – The two teams ready to take to the field to battle it out in the Orange Bowl game, joined forces Thursday to give back to needy families in our community.

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Clemson Tigers teamed up to volunteer at Feeding South Florida before the big bowl game.

Feeding South Florida feeds nearly one million people each year in our community. And while the two teams are not part of that community, on Thursday they focused not on football, but on feeding the hungry.

Inside the warehouse, it was frenzy as students, athletes and coaches from both teams got together.

"All days we are enemies, but today we can work together," said one volunteer.

About 150 volunteers from both schools were hoping to sort, pack and ship over 100,000 pounds of food in one day.

"We're putting together meal boxes for the individuals who struggle to put food on the table in the 4-county service area here in South Florida," said Feeding South Florida CEO Paco Velez.

All the volunteers worked together in a labor of love.

"When we heard the number of people and the number of kids that are hungry in this area, we had to help out," said Ohio State volunteer Josh Ahart. "I think that this operation is one of the most efficient operations I've ever seen."

"This is really neat to know that while you're having fun with the Orange Bowl you can come and make a difference," said Clemson volunteer Scott Sampson.

Inside the warehouse, it was really a cooperative spirit. Everyone had a lot of fun and it didn't matter if they were from South Carolina or Ohio, they were here to help.

Of course, all of that changes Friday at 8:30 p.m. when the teams kick off for the Orange Bowl, where they will be enemies once again.