The sixth annual We Can Care drive brought in almost 20,000 pounds more than expected.

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, now located in Muncie, sponsored the drive, which has brought in 139,744 pounds of food so far. The goal for this year was 120,000 pounds, Executive Director Lois Rockhill said.

“It’s been a wonderful event,” she said. “There were so many people involved. We appreciate it. It’s great. It shows you have compassion in your hearts.”

Greg Graham, chairman of Anderson’s Board of Public Works, spoke to the group about how the city employees and companies in the city participated in the collection.

“This was broad-based,” he said. “Lots of companies and people participated. The food from the drive will be out of the warehouse in eight days.”

Graham noted that about 10 percent of Madison County residents live in poverty, and more than that are struggling to afford food for their families. Anderson, which encompasses about 47 percent of the county’s population, has a much higher percentage in poverty, Graham said.

City of Anderson employees and departments held three fundraisers, the largest of which was a pizza luncheon put on by the Water Department.

Tom Brewer, superintendent of the department, said it was his personal mission to put on a large fundraiser for the drive. That fundraiser alone raised $3,135.

Each dollar equals about six pounds of food, Rockhill said.

This year was the first year the Pendleton Retail Association participated in the event, Dennis Ashley, who is part of the group, said.

“It didn’t catch fire like I hoped, but we started late,” he said. “Next year we’ll hopefully do more.”

The group donated $800 and 1,000 pounds of food.

The Madison County Highway also went out to six grocery stores with dump trucks and collected food.

“Next year, we’ll add two more locations,” Amy Manomber, who headed the collection, said.

The county also let children sign the V-plows as a reward for helping the food drive.