Food Bank Beats Challenge

The Food Bank of Central & Northeast Missouri collected more than one million pounds of donations during the second year of the “Mayor’s Million Pound Food Challenge.”Columbia mayor Bob McDavid asked the community to raise one million pounds for the food bank and residents answered competitively. Between 5 and 6 p.m., the food bank collected 120,000 pounds in donations and pushed the group past its goal.The food bank hosted the all-day food drive in Columbia at the corner of Broadway and Providence, with Zimmer Radio Group broadcasting the event live. The food bank added up the weight of all non-perishable donated items and each dollar donated equaled 15 pounds.Director Peggy Kirkpatrick says all of the food donated will stay in Boone County, but will only last the food bank about a month.