VALLEY PARK, Mo. (KMOX) – The shelves are bare again at local food pantries.

“We’re still seeing an incredible number of people coming to us, asking for food,” says Glenn Koenen, Executive Director for Circle of Concern in Valley Park. 

Koenen says demand for groceries is up 20%.  ”This year, Circle is feeding about 350 more people a month than it did last year.”  That’s equal to 7-thousand more meals a month.

Koenen says it’s not that donors aren’t being generous.  “It’s obvious when we’re seeing so many more families coming to us for help that the number of people left to donate is going down.  Which is very scary.”

Circle of Concern is asking for donations of peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, dry dinners such as Hamburger Helper and Rice A Roni, paper towels and bar soap.

Items can be delivered to Circle, 112 St. Louis Avenue, Valley Park each weekday until 3 p.m. and on Saturday.  For more information, call 636-861-2623.

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