BOSTON -- Adriana Chagas, a stay-at-home mom in Framingham, has had to turn to the Salvation Army for help because her husband recently lost his job. She said he got a new job, but it does not pay what the family needs to make ends meet. The agency's food bank will supply the food the family can no longer afford.

Relief Agencies Struggle To Keep Up With Demand

"I don't know what we would do without this help. Because this helps a lot so we can provide food for the kids. We were so worried to have nothing for them," said Chagas.

In July, Framingham's Salvation Army said it was serving 1,400 meals a month in its soup kitchen. In October, more than 2,000 meals were served.

Right now, its food pantry is well stocked, but it's not nearly enough to meet the growing demand for help. Officials said donations are not keeping up with that demand.

"You know, our donors feel it, too, and it's hard to make the sacrifice and we really appreciate that they do. But, you know, when the giving doesn't go up, but the demand does, we have the gap in the middle," said Lt. Rebecca Kirk, who runs the food program in Framingham.

Newscenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that what is happening in Framingham is happening in communities across the Commonwealth. The number of people in need has skyrocketed while donations are way down.

The Salvation Army in Haverhill said the number of persons served in its soup kitchen increased 116-percent in October from the same period a year ago. The number of clients getting groceries from its pantry is up a whopping 234-percent.

In Framingham, Adriana Chagas said she has also signed up for Christmas gifts for the kids because this holiday season is going to be tough.

"It used to be we'd help people. Now we're getting help," said Chagas.

Lt. Kirk isn't sure how the agency is going to do it, but it has pledged to not turn away any of the growing list of people like the Chagas family.