CONCORD, N.C. -- Like any other business, balancing supply with demand is at the heart of running a food bank.

From that viewpoint, Charlotte area food banks are in the red.

At the Cooperative Christian Ministry food pantry in Concord, they saw an 11 percent increase in demand and a 33 percent decrease in donations last month. Those numbers reflect other food banks in many area towns.

It’s a trend executive director Ed Hosack sees getting worse before it gets better.

“Normally we help 450 households, in March it was over 500 and we are on track to go way beyond that in April,” said Hosack.

He, like many others, points to the economy as the cause of all this.

“We are seeing new families, working families, especially in the trades that are having short time needs. Gas prices and higher prices at the grocery store are bringing them here,” said Hosack.

At the same time, people who normally give money and food donations are feeling the economic pinch.

“All of us are being strained and that is affecting the number of donations coming in,” added Hosack.

This isn’t the first time this community has seen hard economic times. Hosack talked about the enormous demands on his food bank and others immediately after the Pillowtex layoffs that left thousands out of work.

The difference, he said, was that back then other people in the community stepped up in a big way and donations were at an all-time high.

Still, in the face of all this, Hosack is confident that his and other area food banks will weather the storm and somehow be able to meet the growing need in the community.

“We’ve never run out of food. There’s always been a supply come in, sometimes at the very last minute. We’ve put the word out and the community will respond,” said Hosack.

Some big help is on the way. The annual Letter Carriers Food Drive will be May 10. On this day, postal workers pick up donations of dry and canned goods at mailboxes throughout the region. It won’t be enough to meet all of the need, but it will help a lot.

“We’re really looking forward to this year’s event,” said Hosack.

There are many ways to give. Second Harvest Food Bank of Charlotte helps to supply 550 agencies in 14 counties, including Cooperative Christian Ministry food pantry in Concord.

To find out how you can help, you can visit the Second Harvest Web site