DECATUR - John House woke up to television news analysts speculating about whether the country's market meltdown would make the day another Black Friday.

But it didn't feel like it to him after he got behind the wheel of one of his company's trucks, its 32-foot trailer filled with 16,486 pounds of donations from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School for the seventh annual WSOY Community Food Drive. "When I took off, I knew I had a load," he said.

And it certainly didn't look like it when he and his Tommy House Tire Co. truck joined the swarms of children, school buses, shopping carts and vehicles that converged on the Airport Plaza Kroger store at midday Friday during the live radio broadcast.

Surveying the activity under a sunny sky and from a safe distance, House said, "All the politicians in Washington couldn't stop this."

All told, the irresistible force of the Decatur area's generosity, and an extra 45 minutes on the air, generated about 301,000 pounds of food for the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities between 6 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.

The total surpassed the goal by 1,000 pounds.

"With all the things going on with the economy, this was a lofty goal, and I've been nervous about it for a month," said Brian Byers, vice president of community affairs for Joyner Radio and host of the broadcast. "What an unbelievable feeling. I am proud to be part of this community."

Robin Murray, community services supervisor for Catholic Charities, estimates that her agency's share will last six to eight months. She added that she was especially grateful monetary donations were up, thanks to a push this year to boost business participation.

"We have more buying power than the average consumer," Murray said. "We need all the extra food we can get to keep up with the demand."

To get more businesses involved in this year's food drive, organizers announced plans to recognize the top small, medium and big businesses with Good Neighbor Awards.

Karin Betzer-Grady, account executive and community relations coordinator for J.L. Hubbard Insurance & Bonds, said Millikin University, Richland Community College and Archer Daniels Midland Co. were among the largest contributors, but that the award winners would not be known until next week.

"We heard from a lot of people who had not been on board before," Betzer-Grady said. "The business community did an outstanding job."

Besides Our Lady of Lourdes, other schools turning in donations over the lunch hour included Eisenhower and MacArthur high schools, as well as Franklin, Garfield, Holy Family and St. Patrick schools.

Gary Morgan, owner of Morgan Distributing Inc., sidestepped the traffic jam by parking his van in the Kroger parking lot and walking up with a $500 check. Dunn Co. President David Tyrolt said his company's $250 contribution, plus employee food donations, also were turned in around that time.

"The charities we're involved in are those focused around education, community growth and basic needs," Tyrolt said. "Particularly in tough times, it's important to have those basic needs met."

As in previous years, schools provided a large share of the donations as more than 50 competed for cash prizes given by event sponsors.

Sponsors included the Herald & Review, J.L. Hubbard, Skeff Distributing, ADM, Decatur Back & Neck Center, Jones & Thomas, Ticket-N-Trips and WAND-TV.

St. Patrick School won the $2,500 first prize for giving about 47,500 pounds of food.

The Rev. Jeff Grant, pastor of Sts. James and Patrick Parish, said he fears he will have to carry out his promise to kiss a pig if the school won the competition.

"I grew up on a farm, but I've never done this before," Grant said. "It might be under the category of cruelty to animals."

Our Lady of Lourdes came in second with 26,200-plus pounds, winning $1,500.

"We had a competition among the classrooms," student council adviser Mary King said as she helped coordinate dozens of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders unloading the Tommy House Tire truck. "The kids and their parents have been wonderful."

Skipping as he pushed a cart loaded with more than 200 pounds of food, seventh-grader Michael Tschosik, 13, said he enjoyed taking a more active role in the drive this year as a member of the school's student council. "It feels pretty good," he said.

Lutheran School Association took third place with 16,150 pounds and was in line to receive $1,000, while St. Teresa High School placed fourth with nearly 11,500 pounds to claim $750.

Pete Vercellino, co-owner of Ticket-N-Trips, said Warrensburg-Latham High School edged out Maroa-Forsyth High School by collecting more than 10,100 pounds to claim fifth place and $500.

He added that almost every school in Macon County was represented, and many school food donations came from communities outside its borders, including Cerro Gordo, Illiopolis, Monticello and Sullivan.

"Considering the way the poor economy has crept up and hurt people in the last couple weeks, I think the schools did a fantastic job," Vercellino said.

One of Friday's first young donors was Mount Zion High School senior Taylor Myers, 15, who began her day off from school by driving her mother to Kroger on her learner's permit and buying $40 worth of food bags for the cause.

"A lot of people are struggling right now," Taylor said, "and I wanted to help."

At midmorning, Baum School delivered $10 cash and 1,210 pounds of food.

School social worker Debra Veon said sixth-graders Ravon McCloud and Brogerick Johnson collected food from each classroom daily over the past week as a service project.

"Baum is a very generous community," Veon said. "The first donation came from one of our poorest families, so even the least fortunate are very giving here."

tchurchill@herald-review.com|421-7978