Greenwich High School's Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 3, will double as a food drive for the town's only food pantry.

Members of the Class of 1986 plan to collect food and cash donations for Neighbor to Neighbor at the Oct. 3 game against Newtown, according to Greenwich Free Press. Alumni volunteers will be stationed next to the ticket booth at Cardinal Stadium throughout the afternoon. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

The drive comes as Neighbor to Neighbor faces surging demand. Sonya Keshwani, the organization's public affairs manager, wrote in a CT Mirror opinion piece Sept. 24 that the pantry has seen a 14% jump in clients over the past year. Rising food and gas costs and federal cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are driving the increase, Keshwani wrote. The organization serves more than 900 households across Greenwich.

"Neighbor to Neighbor has served Greenwich for more than 50 years, and we have never seen demand grow as fast as it is now," Keshwani wrote.

Neighbor to Neighbor operates a "client choice" pantry modeled on a small grocery store, where families select their own items. The pantry at 248 East Putnam Ave. provides three days' worth of food per family member per week at no cost to qualifying residents.

Board President Adam Leader told the Greenwich Sentinel in August, when he took the role, that he wanted to "deepen partnerships across town for in-kind drives, so no family falls through the cracks."

The undefeated Cardinals (3-0) enter the game having outscored opponents 94-7 through three FCIAC wins over Bridgeport Central (42-0), New Britain (35-7) and Warde (17-0).

Fans heading to Cardinal Stadium on Oct. 3 can bring a nonperishable food item or a cash donation to the collection point beside the ticket booth. Greenwich travels to Norwalk on Oct. 10 at 2:30 p.m.