As the holiday season continues to roll along, the need for food items at local food pantries is starting to grow.

Greene County Action Resource Center (ARC) Manager Shirley Haupert says at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, they didn’t see an increase of clients, unlike what they are seeing now.

“About the 1st of September our numbers have slowly started to increase. Every week we are growing, and that adds up. If you take five times four weeks in a month, that’s a lot of clients that we’re helping to serve. So the numbers are growing.”

Haupert notes they not only accept non-perishable food items, but also perishable items as well, especially fruits and vegetables.

“We have lots of refrigerator space. A person can call me, we’ll be glad to come out Monday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon, or they can even deliver on Wednesday morning before we open up, especially produce. We will keep safe, and cool, and have it ready for the people that (Wednesday) morning.”

The Greene County food pantry is open Wednesdays from 9-11:30am.