WILTON – The number of people needing food from Wilton-area Food Pantry rose in August, but donations were down, said Kitty McDonald, the pantry’s co-coordinator.

McDonald said 134 households sought food from the pantry, compared with 113 households during an average month. McDonald said donations to the pantry are typically lower in the summer and fall than they are around the holiday season.

New families come in all the time, McDonald said, speaking of the increase. Some come only for a short time to get a boost when they need to, she said.

To get food from the pantry families have to meet state and federal income guidelines, but the guidelines rose recently, she said.

A one-person household with an income of $295 per week or $1,276 a month can apply for food help. Several people on fixed incomes who also have high prescription costs get food from the pantry once a month, she said.

Volunteers operate the pantry, which is in the basement of Wilton United Methodist Church. It’s open from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.

The pantry is an ecumenical project that has served people in Wilton, North Jay, East Dixfield and Weld since the early 1990s and is supported by the Wilton Congregational Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal and the United Methodist Church.

Prepacked boxes of food with cereal, juice, peanut butter, vegetables, soups, crackers, margarine, hamburger, hot dogs, luncheon meat or tuna are given to clients, she said. Soap and toilet tissue are added.

Clients are also able to get bread Thursdays on a first come, first serve basis, she said. The pantry receives extra bread from Country Kitchen.

Vegetables have been donated from the Hope Garden and the University of Maine Extension Service Master Garden.

The pantry does receive some government commodities but not as many in the past few years, leaving the pantry to rely on donations from individuals, schools, churches and businesses, MacDonald said.

“Money donations can go a long way,” said pantry volunteer Nye Mosher on Thursday.

The pantry buys some foods from Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn for 16 cents a pound, McDonald said, but distance can be an obstacle. Some food is purchased from discount stores such as Sav-A-Lot.

The pantry’s funding includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That money is divided among area food pantries with Wilton getting 16 percent. The town donates $2,000 annually.

Food donations also come from Academy Hill’s food pass, Boy Scout and UMF food drives, credit union bingo events and the Lions Club, among others.

Two businesses have called recently, she said, to express their intention to hold a fundraising event for the Food Pantry.

NotifyMD, a new call-center in Farmington, is collecting money and food from their employees, Director Sharon Cullenberg said. Of the 40 employees, most either donate $2 or bring in canned goods in exchange for the opportunity to wear jeans on Fridays. The employees created a list of area organizations to contribute to, she said, and they thought the Wilton Food Pantry was a good idea.

Sizzle Tanning in East Wilton plans to hold a grand reopening in October when it moves into the Cousineau mall, Manager Laurie Hutchins said. Clients who bring food donations Oct. 20 and 21 will be allowed to tan for free, she said. The food will be given to the pantry.

The pantry can also use volunteers, especially when food commodities come in, McDonald said.