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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For many, now that Halloween is over, it's time to start looking towards the next major holiday - Thanksgiving.

But for food banks across the country and right here in the Heartland, it means the busiest time of the year; when the demand for donations is high and the supplies are low.

The Food Bank of Southern Iowa moved to a larger facility a few months ago, but a shortage of donations means the supply room is constantly running on empty.

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season only weeks away, employees hope that donations will be on the rise in time for the holiday rush.

"We do try to stock up our supply for this time of year because we know the pantries are going to be asking for more food because they tend to give baskets at Thanksgiving time and Christmas time," said Neal Abbott, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Southern Iowa. "So far this year, we really haven't had a lot of extra to offer at that point."

The food bank is open Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m, and Friday 8:30 a.m.-noon and they're always looking for canned and boxed foods, non-perishable goods and other basic supplies. The food bank accepts monetary donations as well.