Oregon State University's annual food drive raised the equivalent of 446,000 pounds of food, which will benefit non-profit agencies served by Linn Benton Food Share.

OSU bested its goal of 360,000 pounds of food, and proceeds will go to organizations such as community food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, day care centers and gleaning groups throughout Linn and Benton counties.

State employees in the two counties, along with Linn county employees, collected food from Feb. 1 to March 2. In total, the drive raised more than $75,000 and 53,000 pounds of food.

This will allow Linn Benton Food Share to acquire and distribute well over one million pounds of food to those in need, according to spokesman Ryan McCambridge. The drive raised enough food and funds to fill more than 20,000 emergency food boxes, each of which serves a family of four.

For the purpose of OSU's food drive, every dollar received is considered the equivalent of six pounds of food. However, Linn Benton Food Share can buy up to 15 pounds of food with each dollar donated, Cambridge said.

To celebrate the drive's sucess, OSU will host an awards ceremony today in the Journey Room at the Memorial Union, 2501 S.W. Jefferson Way. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., and the program begins at 4. OSU President Ed Ray and Linn Benton Food Share director Mike Gibson are scheduled to speak at the event.