State Bank branches throughout Mississippiare accepting donations of food, but whatever each branch collectswill stay local.

    “We’re raising it here and keeping it here,” said Stan Foster,State Bank Brookhaven.

    This is the first year for State Bank to operate a food drive, andit has met with success in Lincoln County.

    “Our goal is 1,000 pounds,” Foster said.

    They’re more than halfway there.

    So far, 582 pounds of food have been donated to Brookhaven OutreachMinistries, which is home to the Southwest Mississippi FoodBank.

    “It’s just a small way to become involved in helping those who areless fortunate,” Foster said.

      The Rev. Jerry Durr is the head ofOutreach Ministries and described the State Bank drive as ablessing.

    “That’s a real good program that they adopted throughout thestate,” Durr said Durr. “Right here locally it’s going to help usout tremendously.”

    The donations come as demand is increasing. Durr said the ministrygave food to 550 families in the month of October, and that numberhas already been exceeded in November.

    “We had about 150 families come through (Tuesday),” Durr said.

    Donations of non-perishable food may be made to any of the threeState Bank branches in Brookhaven.

    The Southwest Mississippi Food Bank serves a seven-county areacomprised of Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, Amite, Walthall, Pike andJefferson Davis counties.

    Durr said in recent weeks, more than 1,000 pounds of food have beenshipped out to agencies in those seven counties.

    Foster said the success of the drive thus far reflects well on thegenerosity of the local area.

    “The community is very generous,” he said. “We’re just aconduit.”