DURANT — Red River Ford is extending its canned food drive and its offer to donate $25 for each car sold until Saturday because of the popularity of the food drive and fundraiser.

“The response has been so overwhelming, we’re extending it two more days,” said Red River Ford Partner Darrell Mendez.

Mendez and Pat Lynch, partners of Red River Ford, joined with Pam Robinson of United Way with the food drive, aimed at benefiting six United Way Agencies. After announcing its plans, Red River Ford found a receptive community willing to donate to a good cause, Mendez said. Thus far, the car dealership has two complete truckloads of food and has already delivered several truckloads of food this week.

Citizens can continue to collect nonperishable food items and bring them to Red River Ford until Saturday. If for some reason the food cannot be delivered to the dealership, Red River Ford employees will come and pick the items up until Saturday.

“Really the employees have done a good job, going out places and knocking on doors and asking for donations in the neighborhoods.”

Mendez said several businesses and organizations have taken active roles in donating to the food drive, including Indian Nation Wholesale, Transco Logistics, Cardinal Glass, Miller Office Equipment, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the District Attorney’s Office, Indian Territory Home Health, Success Center for Learning, Durant Walmart and the Durant Rotary.

Internally, Red River Ford hosted a chili cookout last Friday for its employees in which employees ate lunch at the dealership and brought canned goods, Mendez said.

Red River Ford will also continue to donate $25 per vehicle sold until Saturday. Already the dealership has raised $1,300 from vehicles sold that it will donate in addition to the food donations, Mendez said.

“We’ve been very pleased [with the response to the food drive],” Mendez said. “It’s been a nice community wide event.”