BECKLEY -- Hunger in the United States is at a 14 year high according to a published report released this week. That report reveals there are 17 million households where people are having trouble putting food on the table, an increase of 4 million households.

There are agencies fighting the domestic hunger problem in southern West Virginia, including Fishes and Loaves behind the Family Worship Center in Beckley. Heart of God Ministries on South Kanawha Street in Beckley also operates programs to deal with hunger. The Kilsyth Free Will Baptist Church in Mount Hope operates a ministry focused on fighting hunger.

Workers with these three, separate food pantries, share a common denominator: they say feeding the hungry is a full time job. Jeff Bennett is the Director of Hope Outreach, a ministry of the Kilsyth free Will Baptist Church and Bennett says statistically speaking, we may know someone who fights hunger, without knowing their plight. "West Virginia has a population of 1.8 million people. And in that population, 10.7%, that's almost one out of 10 people, are unsure of where their food's going to be." Bennett said.

The program Bennett oversees works to provide hot meals, stock a community food pantry, and boxed meals for those in need throughout their area, that is near the border separating Fayette and Raleigh counties

In southern West Virginia's biggest city, Heart of God Ministries operates the "Food for Body and Soul" food pantry. This outreach in Beckley provides non-perishable food items to for those in need in the Beckley area.

Fishes and Loaves also works to fight hunger in Beckley, providing emergency need services Monday through Thursday, in addition to monthly hot meals. This weekend, Fishes and Loaves and Hope Outreach will fight holiday hunger, as each program is hosting turkey dinners in their respective communities.