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Minot State University Social Work Organization members weren't exactly "freezin' for a reason" on Wednesday.

"It's 59 degrees," said Lulu Gonzalez, a senior majoring in social work and a member of the organization.

But the annual food drive to raise money for Community Action and awareness of homelessness in the Minot community still attracted plenty of attention.

Social work club members standing in front of the Town and Country Shopping Center waved signs at cars passing on Broadway. Occasionally a car honked as it passed or pulled into the parking lot to unload some canned food.

"We're ahead of last year at this time," noted Louis McLeod, executive director of the Minot Area Homeless Coalition. This is the seventh year there's been such a drive and every other year there's been wind, freezing temperatures and snow to contend with. McLeod said maybe more people were bringing food because the weather was so nice.

McLeod said the food drive also benefited from prior publicity. Social work club members did a good job publicizing the event on campus and there was also publicity in the community. McLeod took phone calls for the past few days from people who had a friend use a food bank for the first time or note a growing need in the community.

"We hope to beat last year's record," said Gonzalez.

McLeod said he hoped the drive would take in about 5,000 pounds of food, which will be given to Community Action to distribute to area food banks. Some people also made monetary donations.

Donations can still be made after the food drive to the Minot Area Homeless Coalition as well as to food banks and other charitable organizations in town.