The results of “Food Fight to Knock Out Hunger in Marion County” are in, and the winners are clear. Thanks to the efforts of USD 408 and 410 students, hungry families across the county have access to 5,177 pounds of food that wasn’t available before.

Marion County Food Bank and Resource Center officials dubbed the event a “friendly completion” between school districts. Students competed in the food challenge from Oct. 21 until Friday.

Marion barely edged out Hillsboro by 27 pounds, collecting 2,602 pounds of food compared to Hillsboro’s total of 2,575 pounds.

In addition to school-based collections, red barrels also were set up at selected businesses in each town.

Cash donations also were received, and were recorded as $1 being equal to one pound.

The food bank’s board of directors expressed gratitude to everyone who worked on and contributed to the food drive.