Despite the sagging economy, hundreds of families in the area will have Thanksgiving dinners, thanks to food donations.

But according to the organizations that have been handing out the turkeys and stuffing, giving is still down overall and need is up.

That could make for some tight times for the food pantries in the coming months. According to nonprofit organization Hunger Action New York, food pantries across the state have suffered over the past six months.

Even before the economic downturn, poverty levels have been rising across the state, according to the organization. Fourteen percent of individuals in the state are living in poverty.

Local pantries have seen fewer donations, though they have still been able to run their programs.

“This has been the toughest (year) it seems, but Thanksgiving has come together,” said Nancy Sheffield, pantry coordinator at Calvary Food Pantry CNY. “After this, we don't know.”

Calvary Food Pantry was able to hand out 227 food baskets and turkeys to local families and residents Monday for Thanksgiving dinner. The food was donated mostly by local churches, according to Sheffield.

“The people who can still give, they do,” Sheffield said. “We have great support.”

Unfortunately, economic conditions are already taxing charity groups. Calvary has seen an increase in visitors, many of whom have seen work hours go from full time to part time, Sheffield said.

During these times, she continued, organizations such as food pantries become even more important.

“If you're hungry, you're hungry,” Sheffield said.

At St. Alphonsus in Auburn, the food pantry was also able to serve everyone who expressed need to the church. But the 370 food baskets the church handed out were higher than the 300 families expected to need food, said Sue Norton of St. Alphonsus.

“The need has really intensified,” Norton said. “The problem is that a lot of our donors are not able to come up with as big of donations as they have in the past.”

On top of that, she said, the church is seeing new people this year who have not needed food in the past.

Norton said people are giving what they can. One donor won a substantial amount of money and donated half of it to the food pantry.

The organization also is “blessed” to have a very supportive parish that can pick up the slack on slow years, Norton said.

And when the holidays are over, donations tend to drop off even more, she said. When people donate food and time, it just makes things easier for everyone.

“It's going to be a really bad winter. That is when it is going to get worse,” Norton said. “You get a little nervous, but it always seems to work out.”

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.