Area Scouts collected 5,255 pounds of food on Saturday as part of the annual Scouting for Food project, exceeding their goal for the year.

Scouting for Food began across the nation in the 1980s, when Scouts collected an estimated 65 million cans of nonperishable food. It has since grown into an annual event.

The donated food goes to the Salvation Army and the Ecumenical Food Pantry.

“A thank you to everyone who participated, of course Lou-Rich, ABG, Hy-Vee and Nelson’s, and all the residents because they are the ones that put out the food,” said Gina Wadding, chairwoman of the drive.

The collection was split into two parts: a residential and business collection.

For the residential portion, Scouts went door to door in Albert Lea, Glenville, Twin Lakes, Emmons, Hayward, Alden, Conger and Clarks Grove collecting nonperishable food items that residents left outside in plastic grocery bags. The donations for this portion went to the Ecumenical Food Pantry.

For the business portion, Lou-Rich and Alliance Benefit Group had food drives with their employees, and Hy-Vee and Nelson’s Market Place allowed customers to purchase pre-bagged food or a coupon for food that could be delivered to food shelves. These donations went to the Salvation Army’s food shelf.

Wadding said area Scouts collected almost 3,500 pounds of food in 2013 and as much as 6,000 pounds in 2011.

Sixty-nine Scouts participated in the drive.