WREN — The nation may be in a recession, but that wasn’t enough to stop Wren Middle School students from donating 3,148 food items for needy families in the community.

That’s more than twice as many food items as students raised during their annual “Clemson vs. Carolina competition” last year.

“We set it up as a competition between the Clemson and Carolina fans,” said Wren Middle guidance counselor Lynn Brown. “So it leads into usually the weekend before that game.”

Wren Middle eighth grade history teacher Brent Greer said he doesn’t attribute the enthusiasm to the Clemson-Carolina rivalry, but to the students’ desire to help.

“I think the students are aware of the needs in the community and in the nation,” said Greer, who was in charge of organizing the drive this year. “They watch the news and they listen to their parents.”

Greer, who’s been with Wren Middle for 29 years, said the school has been holding the food drive since before he began working there.

The school sets up three boxes: one for Clemson fans, one of USC fans and one for “other fans.” This year, the Clemson fans box alone collected more than last year’s food drive did, with 1,801 food items. The Carolina box collected 778 food items, while the “other fans” box collected 569. The food items will be given to Anderson Interfaith Ministries and Operation Care.

Deanna Morris’ class donated 369 food items, more than any other classroom. Several other classrooms went “beyond the call of duty” as well, Brown said.

Ashley Gill’s classroom donated 310, Betsy Bryan’s donated 285, Tonia Crawford donated 196, Alison Montgomery’s donated 214, Sherri Kennedy’s donated 197, Missy Cooper’s donated 184, Janice Webster’s donated 281, and Brent Greer’s donated 177.

“The kids have really responded to our need in our community,” Brown said.