The University of Findlay says its annual Helping Hands Food Drive shattered all expectations this year.

The university says the 16th annual food drive held Wednesday brought in a record-breaking 214,559 pounds of food.

As in years past, the 2021 food drive continued the trend of surpassing the previous year’s collections by setting a new personal record for the university.

To date, the total amount collected through Helping Hands is 1,097,963 pounds of food.

All non-perishable and monetary donations benefit CHOPIN Hall, a Findlay nonprofit that has been providing food to Findlay and Hancock County families in need for nearly 40 years.

UF thanks Garner Trucking Inc. for generously supplying two semi-trucks to accommodate all food transportation to CHOPIN Hall; Campbell’s Soup Company, which made a substantial donation; and Walmart, which also donated a large amount along with providing community donation locations for food drop-offs.

The 2021 sponsors include Walmart, Garner Trucking Inc., Gateway Church, Great Scot Community Markets, Axe Ventura: Premier Axe Throwing, AMF Sportsman Lanes, and Dietsch Brothers.