WARSAW — A shortage of the Salvation Army food pantry led to an outpouring of giving from the community.

A five to 10 percent increase of people frequenting the pantry for food, paired with an already-low amount of donations, led the Salvation Army to ask the community for help. The Salvation Army explained they only had “Canned vegetables, beans, egg product and salmon and not much else.”

A few short days after the organization posted on social media asking for help to fill the panty, they received a total of 500 pounds of food. Churches, individuals and businesses stepped up to make sure the pantry could continue their services.

The Salvation Army food pantry serves around 250 families a month, leading them to need to keep up to 3,750 food  food items a month to serve everyone.

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary brought in 237 pounds of food, Warsaw Church of God brought 66 pounds, North Winona Church of God brought 25 pounds and Silver Lake Food Pantry brought 100 pounds of bread. Two anonymous individuals also brought in 45 and 176 pounds of food.

“It’s been a great response,” said Ken Locke, Salvation Army ministries director.

This time of year, families, especially single-parent families, struggle to pay for extra school expenses and have enough money for groceries. Locke attributes the recent increase in people going to the pantry to single parents and seniors on fixed income.

Locke also mentioned the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, has been making cuts which has caused more people to seek help from the Salvation Army.