HOLYOKE – Margaret’s Pantry in Holyoke is in dire need of donations to make sure they can keep serving the community and those in need.

Brenda Lamagdeleine, volunteer coordinator and manager of Margaret’s Pantry and St. Jude’s Clothing Store, told Reminder Publishing the pantry is in “desperate” need of food donations.

This time of year, according to Lamagdeleine, is always difficult for the pantry’s supplies. Often, she said, this time of year is difficult for families who need to spend money on extra things in addition to food such as school supplies, uniforms, and Christmas presents.

“We can’t get enough food. Kids are going back to school, parents are getting school supplies and uniforms and rely more on the  pantries,” she said. “They’ll spend their money on other things like Christmas presents, we see a lot more [a] trend of a lot more people in those months. It’s just tough time of year again.”

She said during these months the pantry sees more people than they typically would. In fact, in August alone the pantry “served 1,394 people” and “gave out 109,666 pounds of food.”

However, beginning in September, Lamagdeleine said those numbers increase dramatically though. “September, October, and November our numbers are astronomical. During the month of October we’ll probably reach over 1,400 people.”

But when November hits she said donations typically tend to pick back up again because “usually we get people thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.” Donations received will help them get through until that time.

While non-perishable items like boxed pasta and canned goods are helpful, the pantry also accepts frozen and perishable items as well. However the pantry does not accept homemade items and Lamagdeleine emphasized that if someone wishes to donate frozen items they should take them directly to the pantry after purchasing them. People should avoid donating frozen items that have been in the back of their own freezer for a long time, as the pantry has to follow certain guidelines when giving food away.

Meals that are cheap, require few ingredients, and make large meals are most helpful for families who get food from the pantry, she said. Examples of these types of foods include pancake mix, cake mix, brownie mix, Hamburger Helper meal starters, mashed potatoes and Ramen noodles.

Lamagdeleine said one food item that is in high demand right now is hearty soups such as Campbell’s chunky soups. However, she said donated food “doesn’t have to be name brand.” Another food item needed is vegetables.

She said for anyone in the Holyoke or Chicopee area who may want to or is planning to organize a food drive, the pantry is able to provide local pickup.

While food donations are always accepted, Lamagdeleine said if people donate money a lot of the time the pantry can purchase the groceries cheaper than what people often pay for them. Gift card donations are also accepted by the pantry.

Checks can be made out to Margaret’s Pantry and mailed to 40 Brightside Dr. in Holyoke. Mailed checks or gift cards should be addressed to the attention of Lamagdeleine. Food donations can be dropped off at the pantry on 56 Cabot St. during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you wish to donate food on the weekend, when the pantry is closed,  donations can be dropped off at Kate’s Kitchen on 51 Hamilton St.

Lamagdeleine said the pantry is also collecting donations of winter clothes, both to sell at the St. Jude’s Clothing Store they run, and to give out to those in the community. She said while the store does sell donated clothes,  the “majority of clothes go out for free.”

“If there’s a fire in Western Mass., I take care of the fire victims,” she said. “I go to the fire to help the victims. We take care of the homeless, school kids, shelter people.”

The clothing store runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30  to 2:30 p.m. at Margaret’s Pantry on Cabot St.

Lamagdeleine said anyone who may need help, or just wants to volunteer can contact her at 538-8025. She said there are a lot of people who don’t realize they can get help, even if they’re working or middle class.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re working, a lot of people think they can’t get the services, but they can be working and still get pantry services,” she told Reminder Publishing. “My goal is to make sure middle class people know I can help them.They don’t know there’s services, they don’t know what’s available. I need to reach everybody.”