OTTUMWA, IOWA -- 21 churches from around Southeast Iowa took part in a recent food drive for the Ecumenical Lord's Cupboard in Ottumwa.

The food pantry has been in existence for 44 years in the City of Bridges, providing needed assistance to families or individuals. The space is equipped with refrigerators and freezers and so they also provide perishable items included chicken, and even deer meat.

Vernon Trucano is the President of the Ecumenical Lord's Cupboard and Shirley Gingrich-Slonaker is the Public Relations Director. She told KTVO that summer is a particularly busy time.

"With the economy the way it is, it's increasing...just a slow increase, it has been for the last couple of years," Gingrich-Slonaker.

"Normally during the school year, there's maybe a breakfast and maybe a lunch available at school. So they need a lot more groceries right now in the summertime before school starts. So anything that people can do to give groceries to us, or give cash to us, is much appreciated," Trucano added.

Appreciation was also expressed to one anonymous community member who gave $1,000 in the recent drive and $4,000 in the past.

The Ecumenical Lord's Cupboard is located at the First United Methodist Church in Ottumwa at Fourth and Market Streets. The hours are Monday through Friday from 12 PM to 3 PM, and canned goods are welcome to be dropped off at the door anytime.

Another food drive will take place in early October.