Lack of Supplies Hurting Food Pantries

* Claudia Coffey Washington MyFox 5 TV News

Hughesville, MD - The economic downturn is impacting more families than originally thought.

All you have to do is look at any of the region's food banks for proof. The Southern Maryland food bank says the need is so great they have trouble keeping the shelves full. The food bank says the people that gave donations last year are the people that are coming in this year in need of help.

At the Southern Maryland Food Bank, the minute the doors open, the food starts flying off the shelves. Every Monday, Brenda DiCarlo is in charge of making sure the 32 pantries they serve get the items they need . These days that's tough to do.

"To meet our pantry needs right now we would need to have about 20-25 thousands pounds on hand every Monday morning when we open. But we are lucky to have ten to eleven on hand . It just has become that desperate for us here, " says DiCarlo.

Less items being donated and the greater need has forced the food bank to start limiting items for the first time in 25 years and there's even been Mondays were there wasn't enough food to even open the doors. Last year the food bank distributed 310 thousand pounds of food for the entire year. This year they have already distributed 375 thousand pounds of food.

Ray Allen with Hughesville Baptist Church is one of the pantries that depends on the food bank. He's seen the number of families in need more than double in a matter of weeks.

" Up until three months ago we were serving 25 families a week now as of a couple of weeks ago we had 68," says Allen.

He's on the front lines, and says each month they distribute the food,a line forms out this small shed before they even open their doors. They've even had to cutback on the food they're giving out.

The Southern Maryland food bank depends on donations from area stores and when they can't get enough donations they have to purchase the food. Which is happening a lot more frequently these days.