The number of Americans having trouble putting food on the table continues to rise, and the South Hills is no exception to the trend.

South Hills Interfaith Ministries served 136 families, or 428 individuals, in October 2007, executive director Jim Guffey said. This October, they served 275 families, or 834 individuals.

"My organization probably hasn't seen the need to this extent going back to the 1980s with the closing of the steel mills and the overwhelming loss of jobs," he said.

Comparisons to the situation in the 1980s are common but the need now is greater, said Joyce Rothermel, the CEO of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

"We have never seen anything like this," she said.

Since August 2008, the food bank has seen an average of 1,500 new families a month seeking their services, she said.

"As we watch the unemployment numbers climb, we think there is a direct correlation, that more and more people are finding themselves out of work," Ms. Rothermel said.

And as the last paycheck runs out, people across the country are finding it hard to feed themselves and their families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual report on food security Monday and found that in 2008, 14.6 percent of households, 17 million, were food insecure. This is an increase from 11.1 percent, or 13 million households, in 2007, and the numbers are the highest level observed since the surveys started in 1995.

South Hills Interfaith Ministries food pantry, located at 5301 Park Avenue in Bethel Park, also serves South Park, Finleyville, Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon, Dormont, Castle Shannon and Baldwin-Whitehall.

In the suburbs, Mr. Guffey said, poverty is quieter, since people try to keep up appearances and don't want their neighbors and friends to know they are going through a rough time.

"Suburban poverty is a lot more challenging," he said.

Rising unemployment numbers mean people who have never had to turn to a food bank for help are now finding themselves in precarious situations, Ms. Rothermel said.

"That is one of the challenges for people who have not used the help in the past: No. 1, to go for help, and No. 2, to get over whatever stigma they have for getting help," she said.

It's not only people who have lost their jobs that are coming in to the food bank, Mr. Guffey said.

Senior citizens, single parents and people working for minimum wage are feeling the crunch of rising costs and are unable to keep up.

The inventory at the South Hills Interfaith Ministries is lower than Mr. Guffey would like due to the increased demand.

At the food bank, Ms. Rothermel said donors are stepping up for now, but she worries about donor fatigue as the economic recovery slowly proceeds.

The winter holidays tend to spur more donations, but Mr. Guffey said the months after the holidays will be far more challenging.

"Folks will respond right now," he said. "Everyone gets in the giving mindset. We will be crying out come late January and February. The weather is cold, and people have gotten bills from the holiday season. We will be in far greater need in January and February."

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