Northwest Savings Bank (NWSB) is getting a jump start on the "Tis the season for giving" mantra with its upcoming drive-through food drive.

Slated for Wednesday, Nov. 18, the drive-through collection event marks the fifth year the bank corporation has collected food and monetary donations in association with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and an Erie television station.

Although the event is a part of regional effort, Michael Boyd, assistant manager of the downtown branch, said all the items and money collected benefit families through various community organizations. The benefiting agencies this year are the First Church of the Nazarene Food Pantry, St. Joseph Church Food Pantry, the Sheffield Area Food Pantry and the Youngsville Evangelical United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

"The agencies actually come down the night of the food drive and pick up the food," he said.

The money collected actually takes a detour before benefiting local citizens. Monetary donations are sent to Second Harvest Food Bank for the purchase of food. As a food pantry, Second Harvest has more purchasing power.

"Every dollar donated actually purchases $17 of retail food," Boyd explained.

Collection sites will be at the NWSB Warren area branches located in downtown at Liberty and Pennsylvania, Warren Commons and east side at Ludlow Street.

Since its inaugural year, the collection at the Warren branches of NWSB have grown three-fold. In 2005, the Warren collection yielded 887 pounds of food and $401.04 in donations. Last year, the area collected 3,114 pounds of food and $2,341.13.

Warren Commons branch assistant manager Jennie Minich explained that the collection volunteers will only accept money, non-perishable food and frozen turkeys. Although pets are family members too, cat and dog food will not be accepted.

Boyd suspects that more people may benefit from the collection with effects of a slowed economy and the state budget impasse.

"Those who never thought they would need the help may find themselves accepting food from one of the benefiting agencies," he added.

Despite the cold weather November may bring for the drive-through food drive, both Minich and Boyd are to looking forward to the event seeing the generosity of the Warren area residents.

"I'm excited. It's always fun," Minich said.