GEORGETOWN, Texas — As you pick up pencils, backpacks, and notebooks during your back to school shopping, a local food pantry wants you to also grab a little something extra – donations.
The Caring Place Food Pantry in Georgetown typically has it all.
"They have everything,” said Richard Davila. "Sometimes, I run out of food and these people help me a lot.”
"It's a little bit of a help when it comes short at the end of the month,” said Jessica Padilla. “It’s kind of difficult sometimes with all our bills, you know I have six kids.”
But lately, the pantry's shelves have been a little bare.
"As fast as it comes it, it goes out,” said David Earl, the Food Programs and Facilities Director.
Earl said summer is a busy time for the organization.
"July depleted us lower than we've been in a long time,” said Earl.
With kids home from school and no free lunch program, Earl said there's a high demand. In the summer, the need for food is always greater and donations typically decrease, according to Earl,
In July, Earl said the organization distributed almost 80,000 pounds of food, but only received nearly 10,000 pounds.
"Right now, I can use almost everything,” said Earl.
On Wednesday, The Caring Place stocked its shelves with the food it had to buy at the grocery store for the same price as any customer. Normally, the organization can get discounted food from the Central Texas Food Bank, but even it is running low on supply.
"All the food pantries in this area are going through the same crunch as we are,” said Earl.
A Central Texas Food Bank spokesman told KVUE monetary donations go further because the food bank is able to buy four meals with $1.
The Caring Place is asking for any kind of donations, especially personal hygiene donations like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, or dishwashing liquid.
"When you're out and you're picking up something, pick up a little extra for us,” said Earl.
They want to keep their shelves full and pass on the helping hand to families in need.
“I don't think anyone looks forward to need the help, but it's good that it's here,” said Padilla.
For more information about The Caring Place, click here.