The organization known for giving help could use a little of its own.

The Place of Forsyth County, a nonprofit social services organization, is seeking donations for its food pantry.

Sandy Beaver, executive director, said the pantry has 50 percent less food than it usually has for this time of year and its supplies haven't been this low since 2002.

“We ran out of numerous items,” she said “We are serving about 70 families each week and when they come to us, they have nothing. Their cupboards are bare.”

Beaver said the greatest need is for canned spaghetti sauce, potatoes, cereal, shelf milk, rice, dried beans, canned fruit and boxed meal mixes like tuna helper.

More demand and less food is just a “sign of the times,” Beaver said.

“The need is about 40 percent greater than last year,” she said. “We’re doing Thanksgiving drives in schools, but people need food between now until then too because these are the most difficult of times."