Although the annual rivalry between the hedges with Georgia Tech is weeks away, the two universities will clash in a competition all month long.

This year marks the first annual “Beat Tech” food drive sponsored by the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, inspired by the rivalries between the schools.

“It’s like David taking on Goliath, their resources are a lot bigger, because they are in the city, but the Bulldog Nation can pull it off,” said David Williams, a food solicitor for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

The contest begins today and ends Nov. 26. The bank hopes to collect 30,000 pounds of food, with Georgia Tech raising their food for The Atlanta Community Food Bank.

“If every student at the University donates one can we would reach our goal,” Williams said.

In an effort to make donations convenient, there will be barrels around campus for drop off in addition to other location around Athens.

On Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon, the food bank will have a “fill a truck” event where volunteers can stop by the bank to donate food items.

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia serves 14 counties with approximately 13,800 meals a day, according to its Web site. Staffers said the current economic situation has caused an increase in the amount of people who cannot afford to buy food and need to use food bank services.

Similar food drives have been conducted between Auburn University and the University of Alabama, which combined raised 424,353 pounds of food in 2007.