They’ve been raising food each March for nearly a decade, but one area fitness center is no longer on a learning curve.

Austin’s Curves, a fitness center for women, joined other Curves locations across the country in a non-perishable food drive last month. This year, Curves owner Carol Cox and her staff made the food drive into an extended game throughout the month of March.

The change helped about 100 Curves members come together to raise 1,379.5 pounds of food, which Cox said is the most ever raised.

“We’ve done better this year,” Cox said. “I think this is the most food we’ve ever collected.”

Curves members were split into three teams, and the teams received a paper shamrock for each 10 pounds of food brought in. If a person exercised three times a week, she could then steal someone else’s shamrock, and members could steal shamrocks if they lost weight. People could also earn a shamrock by answering health trivia questions. The team with the most shamrocks won insulated bags.

The three teams were named for Curves employees. The team for Rachelle Root won with 153 shamrocks. Prizes were given to the 10 individuals who brought in the most food. Kim Bumgarner brought in the most food with about 90 pounds — nearly triple the next closest person who brought in about 36 pounds.

“They’re generous,” Cox said. “They rise to the need of the community.”

Cox said Curves has a tight knit group of members, and Curves employees often encourage members as they work out.

Curves International encourages Curves locations to participate in the food drive each March. The food will be donated to the Salvation Army, and the food comes as the food shelf participates in March Food Share Month.