A countywide effort resulted in 7,976 pounds and $1,911 collected for local food pantries during United Way of Story County’s fifth annual LIVE UNITED Food Drive. The amount of food collected increased by about 1,000 pounds over last year’s drive. The food drive kicked off on May 13 and ran for two weeks. More than 60 local organizations served as drop points for donations, and five 4-H clubs throughout the county participated in the collection efforts, resulting in more than 1,400 pounds collectively. Thirteen food pantries in Ames, Cambridge, Colo, Huxley, Maxwell, McCallsburg/Zearing, Nevada, Slater/Sheldahl, and Story City received the donations. Donations will be used by the food pantries to help keep shelves stocked during the summer, a time when the pantries feel more pressure due to students eating at home, rather than school, more often. Many of the pantries purchase food from the Food Bank of Iowa for as little as 14 cents per pound, which stretches the cash donations even further.