MARYSVILLE — This year’s All-City Food Drive collected fewer pounds of food, but more dollars to buy food, to the point that organizers believe their totals even out with previous years.

Tara Mizell, who’s organized the drive for at least a decade, reminded community members that the still ongoing drive’s red collection barrels can be found at 70 locations throughout town.

“We hope folks who didn’t have the chance to donate this past Saturday will look for our red barrels and drop off canned foods, books or unwrapped toys,” Mizell said. “Our primary motivation is to prevent hunger in our community.”

The 6,382 pounds of food collected Nov. 1 was 900 pounds less than last year, but the $1,901 in donations and gift cards was $900 more than last year.

“It was just about the same, when you account for the difference between products and money,” said Tara Mizell.

Dell Deierling, director of the Marysville Community Food Bank, was even more optimistic in his assessment.

“Merging the pounds and dollars, this year just beats out last year,” Deierling said.

Deierling noted that fall and winter food drives are necessary to offset the months when demand for food remains high, but collection drives are far fewer.

“The inventory levels we build up at this time of year often have to last us into May, when the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive comes along,” Deierling said. “The All-City Food Drive brings the community together, as a team, to help those in need.”

Mizell added that the drive supports both the food bank and its annual holiday toy store for families in need.

The All-City Food Drive marks the start of the holiday season of food and toy drives over the next two months.

Mayor Jon Nehring joined Mizell and Deierling at the Fred Meyer to kick off the drive.

Mizell estimated that 125 volunteers, roughly the same as last year, were collecting food and other donations at the Smokey Point and Marysville Safeway stores, as well as the Marysville Walmart, Haggen, Grocery Outlet and Fred Meyer stores.

“To see a gentleman roll up a shopping cart half-full of purchased food, park it next to our volunteers, then walk away, with nothing for himself, was an amazing sight,” Deierling said.

For more information about how to volunteer for, or get help from, the Marysville Community Food Bank, log onto http://marysvillefoodbank.org.