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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Food banks nationally are seeing an increase in need and in donations.
    
So we checked with the Central Missouri Food Bank to see if that was the case here too.
    
Officials say that's definitely true for the food pantries around the Heartland.
    
At one location in Kirksville, they went from feeding 500 people a month to 1500.  But Kirksville isn’t the only place that saw a large increase.

“I was at a pantry location in Marion County and in December we served 800 people.  In January it jumped to 1600 people.  So with the layoffs and some of the things that are happening people are hurting right now.  If we will just help one another we can get through this easily,” said Central Missouri Food Bank Community Developer Steve Youngblood.   “So, the need's really increasing and but at the same time, the donations are increasing, which we attribute to the providence of God and the goodness of people.  It's neighbor helping neighbor.  It's being a brother’s keeper.  And I'm so proud to live in Northeast Missouri,” said Youngblood.

You will have your chance to help this weekend.  The National Association of Letter Carriers is hosting their annual food drive this Saturday.  Just leave a bag of nonperishable goods outside your home Saturday morning and they will be picked up and delivered to local food banks.

Youngblood says almost 20% of Kirksville residents live at or below poverty level.  He says that means almost 4000 people are in need of help.  The Central Missouri Food Bank helps feed 3000 of those people.

They also say many of those in need are experiencing situational poverty and you do not have to be afraid to ask for help.

“Don't be ashamed or afraid to ask for help.  Every one of us has been there.  I've gone to my mom and dad's before and said ‘hey, will you be my food pantry?’ and they've helped me with groceries for a week.  Don't be ashamed.  We're here, that's what the churches are here for, that's what the food pantries are here for, that's what the Central Missouri Food Bank is here for,” said Youngblood.

Youngblood said all you have to do is show up at any of the pantries during their food drive.

There are four pantries located in Adair County.

Here are the names and phone numbers:
Christian Community Food Depot, 660-665-3624
Helping Hands Mission, 660-627-2446
Salvation Army, 660-665-7885
First Church of the Nazarene, 660-665-6832

For a complete list of all Central Missouri Food Bank pantries, click here.