The Food OutReach Co-op of Effingham (FORCE) is working to increase donations to local food pantries in Effingham for those in need.

Bonnie Dixon, director for the Effingham United Way Service Center, said the declining economy has “caused a crisis throughout the nation” and also in Effingham.

She said the increase in gasoline, utilities and the struggle with home loan financing has caused a burden for many people in the area.

“They simply do not have enough money to buy enough food for their families,” Dixon said. “Several days where they have bare shelves, children are going home from school and not receiving another meal until they show up to breakfast at the school the next morning.”

Dixon said the Second Harvest food bank is also in the midst of a crisis.

“The vendors that normally give them products do not have the funds to transport the items from a couple hundred miles away,” she said, “so therefore, even their shelves are getting bare. We normally receive an influx around the holiday season. Our pantries are worried that they will even have enough to last through the normal giving time.”

Dixon said there are six schools currently signed up to hold food drives, and those hosting events such as fall festivals are encouraged to ask attendees to bring a canned food item to the event.

Members of FORCE are thinking of other ways to collect food as well.

“The steering committee of FORCE has agreed to go onto the roof of a local business and stay there until we have 1,000 food items collected,” Dixon said.

The steering committee includes Dixon, Janice Mydell of Concerted Services, Glenda King of Effingham County Victim Witness, Elaine Spencer of Family Connection and Communities in Schools and Lisa Bush of Manna House.

Dixon said the need for local residents to use the food pantries to supplement their food needs has increased dramatically during the last three to four months, and in a way she has never seen before.

She said there are people who have come in for assistance because their mortgages have increased — even with two incomes they cannot make the payment and purchase food for their families.

Local pantries are projecting a possible increase of 72 percent of those needing assistance in the area.

Those interested in holding a food drive should call Dixon at 826-5300, Mydell at 754-6910, King at 754-7460, Spencer at 429-5468 or Bush at 826-2037.

Dixon said nonperishable, canned goods are the best for donation. All donations will stay in Effingham County and will be divided among the local pantries.

The FORCE steering committee will be on the roof of a local business, which will be announced in the coming weeks, to collect canned goods on Nov. 13 beginning at 1:30 p.m.