Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

Vern Simpson, the volunteer coordinator at Interfaith Food Pantry in Blacksburg, looks over the storage cellar food stocks. With rising costs of gas, food and other living expenses, area nonprofits are having trouble keeping up with the rising demand for their services.

With many Americans facing economic troubles, demand for aid from area organizations is soaring. And some groups fear finances will take an even bigger hit once heating season arrives.

Phillip Pappas, president of the Montgomery County Emergence Assistance Program, had one word to describe the current demand for services -- "unbelievable."

"We're having a hard time keeping up," Pappas said last week.

The MCEAP is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to individuals and families in need of immediate aid, including food, clothing and financial assistance to pay bills and rent or to purchase prescription medicine.

The MCEAP office, located at 110 Roanoke St. in Christiansburg, has about 200 people per week coming in requesting food. However, Pappas said the amount of food in stock is at the lowest it's been since the organization was founded in 1975.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Pappas said he would rate the amount of food available compared with what the group needs a 2.

In addition to a depleted food bank, the MCEAP is seeing other programs take a hit.

The organization once prided itself on its fuel assistance program, in which it was once able to give 100 gallons for the season. Because of the high cost of gasoline and high demand for these services, the organization may have to cut down on these contributions, Pappas said.

Vern Simpson of Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry said that while resources are lower than they have been in the past, things could be a lot worse.

"We know that it [demand] is growing faster than it ever has," Simpson said.

The food pantry, located at 505 Progress St. behind Blacksburg Baptist Church, is a volunteer organization that provides food for Blacksburg residents in need. Simpson said BIFP services about 500 people per month.

Fredda Cromer, who runs BIFP with Simpson, said the organization has been fortunate enough to have the support of the Blacksburg community.

Fraternities and sororities often hold food drives, residents give money, Food Lion and Kroger donate food daily and Panera Bread in Christiansburg donates food every Friday. The organization also receives regular donations from churches. Now that Virginia Tech classes are back in session, Simpson expects an increase in support.

The food bundles prepared by BIFP are meant to last about a week, if stretched. Bundles often include food items such as canned goods, vegetables, soups, beans, spaghetti sauces, bread, dessert and produce.

"We have added about 91 families since the first of January," Cromer said, adding that the food pantry sees about 20 new families a year.

Of the participants requesting service this year, Cromer said, the majority are people who hold jobs but are affected by the economic downturn.

In order to further supplement the needs of people who are employed, BIFP, normally open Monday through Friday mornings, added an additional Monday night time slot so people could stop by after work. The organization serviced 40 people last Monday night, Cromer said.

Simpson said a number of those requesting help are single parents and elderly residents with health problems.

Both the MCEAP and BIFP have regulations on the services they provide to ensure that the people requesting help qualify. While there are criteria that must be met by those requesting aid, Pappas said he isn't that strict about the food service.

"If somebody comes in and tells me they're hungry, I tend to take their word for it for the most part," he said.

Both organizations will soon face the rise of heating costs this winter, a factor that may cause even more of an increase in the demand for their services. The Energy Information Administration projects a 49 percent increase this winter for heating oil.

Pappas said that while MCEAP is holding its own, its finances will take a big hit once winter arrives.

Tech fraternities recently raised $10,000 for the organization as part of their annual fundraising efforts.

The MCEAP budgets this money toward purchasing food for its food bank. While the money generally lasts for nine months, this year's money was spent after four months, Pappas said.

Last week, Pappas also said MCEAP received 100 dozen donated eggs from a grocery store. After one day, the organization was down to 10 dozen eggs. He also said the organization just spent $3,500 on food that might last for about 10 days.

"Our cost is up, and our contributions are down," he said.

Pappas said that the holiday season accounts for an increase in donations but that he hopes residents are able to contribute sooner.

"If not, I don't know that we can continue doing what we do," he said.