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WILLIAMSON COUNTY, (WSIL)--The holidays are a busy time of year for many food pantries. Some local agencies say they need food and volunteers. 

Delene Ashby volunteers her time at the Cambria Food Pantry and says during the holiday season their food distribution can be busy. 

“Well, it seems like this year we've been busier than before because of the economy and all. We want to make sure people have a good holiday and if this is the way we can do it, that's what we do,� Ashby said.

Gayle Pottorff is the pantry's co-chair and says they typically feed around 120 families per distribution, but on Tuesday morning she thinks they had more than usual.

“We're staying with our head above water. As you can see, our shelves are, we have some bear shelves� Pottorff said. 

She says this time the distribution also included food for the Thanksgiving holiday.

“They wanted a Thanksgiving meal and we tried to provide all the little things,� Pottorff says.  “We were not able to provide turkeys this year, but we did give them enough ham.

She says they have a goal to empty their shelves, and that means they are always in need of food. On Saturday they are hoping for a big donation with the Boy Scouts annual food drive.

“We appreciate anything that we get and we pass it along because the food on the shelf ain't helping anybody, so we wanna make sure that whatever we get, we get out to the people, but please keep the donations coming,� Pottorff said.

At the Herrin House of Hope, people can also go to their food pantry for items. Executive Director John Steve says they have ingredients from their food pantry for those who want their meal at home.

“Multiple members from the community coming in are needing food assistance to provide a Thanksgiving meal at their home,� Steve says. “So we're wanting to let the community know that if you would like to support that cause and help us with food donations, please consider hearing also hope along with many great organizations here in the community.�

Steve says they are currently prepping for their in-house Thanksgiving meal, and they are looking for more volunteers.

“We always average around 200 community members that come into Herrin House of Hope for a Thanksgiving meal. And so one thing we're really praying for is that the community responds and will be willing to be a vessel for that day and come give us a hand,� Steve said.

At the Cambria Food Pantry, Pottorff says they will be focusing on their next food distribution around Christmas time, but she says people can call in if they need an emergency box of food.

“If somebody calls me and sets up a day, we'll make sure they have a box of food, of some sort,� Pottorff said.

Pottoff says they could use more cardboard boxes to put the food in for distribution. She says they also would like more volunteers.