MARSHALL — Hunger is a growing concern in Marshall and surrounding communities. The Kitchen Table Food Shelf has seen it in the numbers of families visiting each month, said food shelf coordinator Stacy Gackstetter.

“We’ve definitely seen an increase,” Gackstetter said. She said around 35 new families signed up for the food shelf last month.

Overall, the Kitchen Table Food Shelf is serving nearly 500 families per month, Gackstetter said. That was up from last year, when the food shelf served about 420 families a month.

On Saturday, United Community Action Partnership will be partnering with the Lyon County Democrats to hold a food drive collecting donations for the Kitchen Table Food Shelf in Marshall. Donation drop-off sites will be located at Justice Park, the Marshall Area YMCA, and 701 East College Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Community members can still bring donations to the YMCA drop-off location even after Saturday’s food drive. The drop-off site will be open until October 4.

Anita Gaul, chair of the Lyon County Democrats, said the food drive was a new event for the party.

“Food insecurity is a real problem, and it’s on the rise,” Gaul said.

In addition to the three drop-off locations, Gaul said Marshall residents will also be able to leave items for the food shelf on their doorsteps on Saturday. Volunteers will be coming by to pick up donations between 10 and 3. “We’ll pick up your bag from the front step,” she said.

Gackstetter said support from area residents and organizations was positive for the food shelf. Groups like local churches help bring in needed items, in addition to community food drive events.

“It’s nice that we’re doing these food drives before the holidays,” Gackstetter said. Community members often hold food drives around the holiday season, but it was also good to get support for the food shelf during other times of the year, she said.

Gackstetter said pantry items like sugar, oil and flour were good to have at the food shelf. Other popular items included easy meal ingredients like instant oatmeal, ramen, canned chicken, and peanut butter and jelly. At this time of year, fresh garden produce is also appreciated, Gackstetter said.

“That’s been pretty nice for our customers,” she said.

However, donations to the Kitchen Table Food Shelf don’t have to be grocery or hygiene items. Gackstetter said cash donations can be used by the food shelf to purchase needed items.