Donations are coming in for Wiscasset High School's run at Portland television station WGME's next “Spirit Cup.”

Wiscasset Ford has given $200 that will go to Good Shepherd Food Bank, the recipient of the food and money that schools are gathering, said Deb Pooler, Wiscasset High's technology integrator assistant and student council advisor.

The Bath Road business is challenging other businesses to match its donation, said Colleen Bennett, office manager at Wiscasset Ford. “We want to support Wiscasset High School and we want Wiscasset High School to win,” she said.

Bennett, who serves on Wiscasset's new school committee, said this is an important time for the community to be showing spirit for the high school. The WGME contest comes as Wiscasset prepares to leave Regional School Unit 12.

Donations to the food bank, in connection with the contest, have also been received from Mainely Imaging in Wiscasset, for $200, and the Wiscasset Firefighters Association, $100, Pooler said.

Good Shepherd can buy five pounds of food for $1, WGME morning show anchor Jeff Peterson has said.

The school that racks up the largest number of pounds of food wins the Spirit Cup.

Most of the contest's other entrants are in the Portland area. Brunswick High School is the nearest competitor.

Wiscasset High now has food collection boxes at Wiscasset Ford, Shaw's, Ames Supply, the Chewonki Foundation, the Wiscasset Community Center and Wiscasset's primary, middle and high schools, Pooler said.

Wiscasset High teachers will be working at McDonald's from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. February 6, with a portion of the restaurant's take in those three hours going to the food drive, Pooler said; other plans to collect food and funds for the food bank include bake sales at Shaw's and Ames Supply this Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a February 1 collection at the Wiscasset Community Center, in connection with Winterfest and a community supper; a “Zumbathon” at the high school February 15; and collections at home basketball games and home swim meets, Pooler said.

Raffles and admission discounts at the home basketball games will also benefit the drive. Pooler said one donated food item shaves $1 off admission; a bag of food gets a whole family in free, she said.

WGME will be at Wiscasset High School for a pep rally and food collection during the station's morning show, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on January 31.

“We really want to fill the gym ... I am really hoping the community comes out to support the kids,” Pooler wrote in an email January 11.