While it's accustomed to handling bills and paperwork, Medical Management Professionals in Hilliard is hoping to receive cans of soup and bags of beans from its clients this month.

The company, located on Mill Run Drive, is hosting a community food drive this month, with proceeds to be donated to the MidOhio Food Bank, according to spokesman Mark Handley. While the company's Hilliard branch is one of 63 nationwide, the different branches are competing against one another, Handley said.

"We're a growing company but still with a mom-and-pop feel, so the different firms will be competing with one another," Handley said.

MMP's parent company, CBIZ, will add $5,000 to the winning branch's charity - if the Hilliard office wins, that would be the MidOhio Food Bank, Handley said. Second place receives $2,500 and $1,000 goes to third place for their respective charities, he added.

MMP's goal for the food drive is to collect 5,000 pounds of food.

"That's kind of a hefty goal," Handley said. "Basically we're accepting any sort of non-perishable food item - cans, boxed goods, and things like that. We're also accepting monetary donations, with $1 equaling five pounds of food.

Handley said that MMP is a national firm that provides billing and practice management services to hospital-based physicians. MMP was founded in 1993.

"We represent physicians that are hospital based, such as emergency ambulatory services - kind of the doctors behind the scenes," he said.

Handley said the food drive will take place from Nov. 2 to 20, finishing in time for Thanksgiving.

Those wishing to donate food can either drop items off at MMP, located at 3455 Mill Run Drive, Suite 450, during the week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or can contact Handley at 1-800-379-8731 ex. 1, or at mhandley@ cbizmmp.com.

lrice@thisweeknews.com