With Thanksgiving behind us, and Christmas only a few weeks away, local food pantries are looking for ways to raise donations.

It’s been a hard season for many agencies. The Salvation Army in Bluefield is faced with the problem of bare shelves.

Jerry Lester, the Director of the local Salvation Army, says they have green beans, corn, and peas, but beyond that not much else.

“Meats and things like that, something you can make a sandwich with, that’s something we really don’t have,” said Lester.

He says the Salvation Army never turns people away, but lately they’ve had to give people less than what they ask for.

“People come in here and ask for this and us not being able to give it to them, it makes it rough on us,” said Lester.

Nov. 30, one man came in simply looking for clean drinking water. Lester could meet that request, but it reminded him just how hard things are out there.

Another woman, who asked to remain anonymous, stopped in to get help keeping her heat on. She hopes the help from Salvation Army will help her, and her two children, through the winter.

“There are a lot of unknowns, the economy, where the next heat is coming from, food, or anything else…it’s scary,” said the woman.

Lester is hoping it won’t be so scary for much longer. This time of year local schools usually chip in with food drives. While he hasn’t heard anything yet, he’s hoping they continue that tradition.

“We just do the best we can with what you have,” said Lester.