People throughout the area who have been able to rely on local food pantries in their time of need may be faced with a closed door as many facilities see food supplies drop.

Those who work at area food pantries blame the slowing economy for fewer donations and more need.

The Center for Food Action (CFA) in Englewood has seen its first-time client number rise nearly 50 percent in the past year. Coupled with a decrease in donations between 35 and 40 percent, the center’s supply can’t meet the demand.

Donations have been so low, volunteers have been sent home because there is nothing to sort.

"Our shelves are empty. We have no food. We’re turning people away," said Jennifer Rothman, coordinator of community affairs and volunteers at the CFA. "It’s very concerning. There are so many more people who are working that are coming. To me it feels like a clear indication that the economic condition of the country is very troubled."

Good Shepherd Community Services in Fort Lee runs a small food pantry as well as a program for individuals with HIV.

"Donations always go down in the summer so I don’t know if they were down more in July and August than a year ago, but I know they were less in September," said Allison Moore, executive director of Good Shepherd.

Coping with decreased donations can be hard. "People just get less food," Moore said. "We also go and spend more program money to stock the shelves. We don’t want them to have nothing."

Similarly, the CFA has dipped into its emergency funds to help those in need, which concerns Rothman. "We have no idea what’s going to transpire this winter and what we’re going to do to recoup," she said. "We’re hoping people who are still able to donate would open up their hearts to do so."

While the Holy Rosary Church Pantry in Edgewater seems to be weathering the unstable economy with enough donations, Deacon Bob Thomson said the pantry has seen an increase in clients.

"I think the way we’re expanding is that there are people overflowing from other food pantries," he said.

The Holy Rosary facility shares any surplus it may have with other food pantries in the area.

The Teaneck Armory has also seen more families requesting assistance. Deployments have a lot to do with its food bank demand. "When a lot of people are being deployed, salaries decrease," said Janis Shaw, Family Assistance Center coordinator. "We help out those families."

Shaw believes the armory’s food pantry has a reasonable supply, but it depends on the amount of job losses in the future. "We’re in a wait and see type situation," she said.

All the area food pantries hope that the upcoming holiday season will help with their supplies, since donations typically increase during that time.

An upcoming food drive Oct. 12 throughout Bergen County at various supermarkets is another way Rothman hopes to increase the CFA’s food supply.

"If you’re already struggling, it’s just unbearable now. These are folks that are having a hard time just making ends meet. Now that it’s [the economy] tanking, there’s nowhere for them to go," Rothman said.

"I’ve never seen anything like this."