When the stampede subsided and the battle ended, all that remained were dirty trucks and 1,000 pounds of spoils.

Reliable Storage and Bainbridge Self Storage went toe-to-toe with competing food drives for the Helpline House. Both aimed to out-raise the other during the food drives, which were held from Feb. 23 through March 9.

Curt Bonderant and his team at Reliable Storage collected 428 items of food for the Helpline House.

Not so fast, said Janice Danielson, manager of Bainbridge Self Storage.

“We think he fudged the numbers,” Danielson said. “So we went over there and forced him to wash our 26-foot U-Haul truck and wear a cheater sign.”

“We jest,” she added. “We had a great time doing this event with Reliable Storage.”

The competition was a tongue-in-cheek battle. The main goal was to pool the two companies’ resources in order to benefit an island charity while also getting a couple car washes out of each other.

“We graciously offered to wash their Reliable Storage truck because we are good that way,” Danielson said.

Together, the two storage companies collected nearly 1,000 pounds of groceries for the local food bank.

Each had their own strategies. Danielson noted that they handed out gourmet candy apples as an incentive for people to drop off food at their location.

The donation comes at a good time. Helpline House has been struggling to keep up with demand on the island. Donation levels have been down for the food bank, while demand for its services continue to rise.

In January, the Helpline House served the largest number of islanders in one month in its entire history.

To help bridge the donation gap, islanders can donate food to the Helpline House on Knechtel Way from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.