DAPHNE, Ala. — Staff members from the Mid South Home Health office in Daphne collected approximately 4,353 pounds of food for the needy throughout August as part of an annual national food drive led by its parent company, Gentiva Health Services Inc.

Mid South Home Health employees at the Daphne office and their counterparts around the country placed food-collection bags at various health-care facilities in their respective communities and collected goods in their offices. The Daphne collection has been donated to Bay Area Food Bank.

Because of giving from individuals and organizations in the Eastern Shore area and around the country, just more than 166,000 pounds — or 83 tons — of food will be delivered to organizations nationwide. The total surpassed Gentiva’s national record of more than 47 tons last year.

“As our friends at the food banks say, ‘hunger doesn’t take a vacation during the summer,’” said Pam Campbell, Mid South Home Health’s Daphne branch director. “We want to thank all ofthe many local health organizations and businesses — as well as our friends, neighbors and associates — who contributed so much to this drive at a time when charitable groups face chronic shortages of food and our community efforts must focus on both the needs of local people affected by the economy and the victims of natural disasters.” Since Mid South’s staffers are never satisfied with the status quo, we look forward to breaking our national and local record next year.”