With the holidays just around the corner, officials at local food pantries and the food bank say they've seen an increase in the number of families using the agencies' services.
Marylyn DeFeo, volunteer executive director for the Samaritan Center in Jefferson City, said the food pantry services nearly 100 families a day and more than 1,400 families a month.
In the past, she said, the pantry has normally serviced 60-70 families a day.