The Merchants Bank "Ten Days of Giving" 2012 food drive has gone over the 160,000 pound mark with still some more donation pickups left to be made.
                     
The bank reports the total as of  Friday was 161,291 pounds. That included $68,852 in cash, and 23,587 pounds of food. The bank uses the formula that one dollar in cash is equal to two pounds of food.

Spokesman Mark Metzler says several other pickups are still scheduled. Final totals will be released next Thursday.

A year ago the bank raised 206,000 pounds of food but that was also the result of a last-minute unexpected donation. This year Merchants has gone over the 2,000,000 pound mark over the 24 years the food drive has been held.

Food and cash donations can still be brought to any Merchants Bank location in Winona, Goodview and St. Charles...or to Winona Volunteer Services at 412 East Second Street during regular business hours.