Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Timmy Welch, from left, Nick Howell and Matt Hanley collect nonperishable food from residents on the east side of 5th Avenue Wednesday evening for the annual Everybody Loves Firefighters Food Drive. The ELF Food Drive continues on the west side of 5th Avenue tonight at 6 p.m. The food drive is for the Havre Food Bank. 

The organizer of the annual holiday food drive held by Havre firefighters said the Everybody Loves Firefighters drive was fruitful Wednesday, and he is hoping for the same success tonight.

“Things went really well,” Havre firefighter Cody McLain said this morning. “We had lots of good help, lots of volunteers and got finished earlier than expected.”

McLain said the firefighters and volunteers collected an estimated 4,000 pounds or more of nonperishable food items to be donated to  the Havre Food Bank in their collection of items east of 5th Avenue Wednesday, right on track to meet or beat the amount that has been collected in the last few years.

McLain said he hopes a good number of volunteers are able to help again tonight, gathering at the fire department on 5th Avenue before the collection west of 5th Avenue begins at 6 p.m.

“We would just appreciate the volunteers again,” he said. “We could use the good hands tonight.”