More facts and figures from the Northwestern:

Pantry helps feed thousands in Oshkosh

More than 2,700 people are registered through November of this year at the Ecumenical Food Pantry located at Trinity Episcopal Church. The number of people registered is nearly 800 more than in 2001.

Sue Meyer, who helped organize the Ecumenical Food Pantry when it started in 1989, said they currently assist 400 Oshkosh households a month.

"People need to know these numbers. They've increased tremendously in five years and it's scary," Meyer said.

Bongert, who counsels recipients on meal preparation and healthy food choices, said economic hard times and job layoffs have fueled the increase in people seeking assistance with groceries.

"A lot of our clients have one or two fulltime minimum wage jobs and with a family it's impossible to make it with that type of money," Bongert said. "They don't have a high income so they really value something like this."

"The face of hunger is changing. A lot of the working poor are going to food pantries," she said. "Forty-two percent of the people we serve have at least one working adult in the family. They are trying to make ends meet, but their job isn't a high paying one. To make it on a small income is difficult."