diff --git a/lottery_predictor/collect.py b/lottery_predictor/collect.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f8334a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lottery_predictor/collect.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+"""
+    collect.py
+
+    Functions for collecting data for insertion into the databse or pulling data from the database for analysis
+"""
+from datetime import datetime
+from enum import Enum
+from time import sleep
+
+from sqlalchemy import func
+from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
+
+from data.database import Base, dal, MegaMillionsDraw, PowerballDraw, project_variables
+import util.drawing as drawutil
+import util.environment as envutil
+import util.scrape as scrapeutil
+
+project_variables = envutil.load_environment_variables()
+
+
+def get_record_count(table_name: str) -> str | None:
+    """get the most recent draw record from the specified table"""
+    if table_name in ['PowerballDraw', 'MegaMillionsDraw']:
+        dal.connect()
+        session = dal.Session()
+        target_table = Base.registry._class_registry.get(table_name)
+        return session.query(func.count(target_table.draw_date)).first()[0]
+    else:
+        raise ValueError('Valid values are PowerballDraw, MegaMillionsDraw')