Two years ago, Dalia Pena and her family lived a carefree life. Immediately after the birth of her second child, her husband left her and her two children with no money and little food.

Pena, who is still legally married to her husband, is now living with her partner who recently lost his job.  

Today, Pena receives food and clothes from Crossroads Community Services (CCS), where she also volunteers because of her love and passion for helping others.

Pena works a part-time job and uses the little that she has to pay her bill. Every other weekend, Pena takes her children to see a movie or visit a museum to relive the old times.  

According to North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), one in four children in Dallas County live in poverty.

As a result of high unemployment and the downturn in the economy, food pantries have seen an increase in traffic in recent months.

However, donations are declining at the same time. Volunteers and pantry directors fear that there may be a shortage of food, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

CCS, located in downtown Dallas can only serve 50 to 70 people per day. Jean Jacobs, a volunteer coordinator, said that she sees the number of people who need assistance going up.

CCS donations have fallen 12 percent from last year, and the end of a recent stimulus program resulted in a 40 percent drop in food donations from the government.

“We’re trying to provide for as many as those as we can, but we can only do it when we have support,” Jacobs said.     Though their main emphasis is on food, Jacobs said receiving clothing is the icing on the cake. On the second floor of CCS’s two story building, visitors can find donated clothing, which is separated by men’s and women’s clothing in separate rooms.

CCS also provides children’s clothing, diapers and baby necessities.  

North Texas Food Bank has also increased their efforts for this holiday season.

Since the government stimulus package has ended, NTFB receives 25 percent less food than they did last year. NTFB serves more than 300 member agencies in North Texas, including Crossroads Community Services.

NTFB relies on the public with their canned food drives and Kids for Turkeys for food donations.

Paige Phelps, senior manager of communications and public affairs at NTFB, said that agencies are overwhelmed with demand. According to Phelps, Texas is the second hungriest state in the nation behind Arkansas.

“They are seeing people they have never seen before and seeing previous donors who are now needing help,” Phelps said.

Phelps ensures that everyone will be getting food during the holidays, but they want to be able to provide as much food as they did last year.

“The holidays for us are crucial because we make 50 percent of our budget in two months. This is the time where holiday awareness is key,” Phelps said.

Sean Gray, director of operations at NTFB, said he is starting to prepare for the holiday season. He manages a staff that delivers food to the 10,000 programs in the 13-county area.

“Everyone is working as hard as they can to make a goal a reality,” Gray said.

Since CCS reaches its daily capacity of in-house clients quickly, they have a Multi-Family Program (MFP) that goes out and registers families to receive services without having to come to the downtown location.

Jennifer Johnson, MFP coordinator, goes out to at least 36 communities with her laptop and scanner to register families. Johnson said community centers, churches and recreational centers in each area can also coordinate a food program.

This allows the centers and churches to deliver to clients within the neighborhood.

“They know their neighbors probably better than we do, so they know where the need is,” Johnson said.

Rather than donating perishable items, Johnson urges people to reach inside their pocketbooks and donate.

“We would like to get fresher food items to get out to the community,” Johnson said.

According to NTFB, donating one dollar pays for four meals. And 94 cents of every dollar donated to the Food Bank goes directly toward supporting programs that provide food to children, seniors and families.

For those unable to donate, CCS asks people to volunteer their time.

“I would like to show them what it’s like,” Johnson said.

“Through somebody else’s perspective ­— it’s a greater message than our own voice here.”

For more information on these organizations visit their websites at www.ntfb.org or www.ccsdallas.org