The pantry run by Red Bird Mission in Clay County stays busy, much busier than they can afford at times.

"Families can come in and receive emergency food pantry services once every three months. We find them coming more often, needing it sooner," said Red Bird Community Outreach Center Director Tracy Nolan.

The center is located in Clay County.
The Census Bureau reports it's the fourth most impoverished county in the nation, with several other eastern Kentucky counties in front or right behind it.

This is a problem that workers at the pantry are trying to combat with what they have available.

Organizers said the items collected go just as quickly as they come in and that there's always a need for people to donate.

"More than fifteen hundred people benefit from the emergency food pantry food and services here. We provide more than eight thousand home-delivered meals through our senior citizens center, in congregate meals. So it's a lot of people are helped, and a lot of food is needed to make this happen," said Nolan.

County officials recognize the need and say there is hope.

"We are trying to work on jobs in our county. We do have a few things coming in, we don't want to get into a lot of that at this time, but some of that's helping," said Clay County Judge Executive Joe Asher.

The Red Bird Mission Pantry receives a truck load of food from God's Pantry in Lexington every month, but officials say it goes as fast as it comes in.

To see how you can help, contact 606-598-3155 or visit www.rbmission.org