Organizers of a Collinsville food pantry say they're running dangerously low on donations and are asking for help.

"We've been low on food for more than a month now," said the Rev. Michael Watkins, director of the Helping Hands Food Pantry. "We've had some food drives that have helped, but we're still low."

Supplies, which typically dip during the fall, have been rocked by an increased number of needy people dealing with the recession.

He said they normally serve about 220 families per month. During the summer, that jumped to about 350 families. While the numbers are back down, the situation has depleted the pantry's supplies.

"The need is greater than it has been in a long time because of the economy," he said. "We want to try to help these families."

While October is typically a lean month for area food pantries, this year has been especially hard for the pantry, part of the Collinsville Area Ministerial Association and run out of the basement of the First United Presbyterian Church at 201 E. Church St.

Pantries usually start running low in late September and October. Supplies are replenished when the Boy Scouts complete their annual Scouting for Food drive, as well as a large number of holiday-related food drives. But the Boy Scouts will not bring in food until Nov. 20, and the pantry is scrambling to keep its shelves stocked.

"Right now, I've been going to the stores and buying food, and I've sent out an e-mail message to all the churches to have them start doing food drives," he said.

Volunteer Doris Falk, of Collinsville, said the short supply of food shows the need.

"I figured they need help; there's a lot of poor people out there," she said.

To donate to the Helping Hands Food Pantry

— Bring items to 201 E. Church St. in Collinsville

— Call 618-346-1861

Contact reporter Scott Cousins at 618-344-0264, ext. 113