Hard times at the holidays: Pawcatuck Center gives out 31 percent more food

As it prepares to distribute food and gifts to the needy for Christmas, the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center has reported that it gave out 31 percent more food at Thanksgiving than it did last year.

Officials at the center said the increase reflects the overall requests for assistance that the center has received this fall. It handed out 525 boxes of food to families in Stonington, North Stonington and Westerly this year compared with almost 400 last year.

Churches, civic organizations, schools and individuals donated the items to the center ,and more than 100 volunteers packed and delivered them.

The Dog Watch Café in Stonington and its customers donated 300 turkeys.

Vicki Anderson, the center's executive director, said the increased numbers were not a good sign, but she was heartened by the outpouring of support.

"It is truly a sign of the community's good heart that we were on the receiving end of such generosity," she said.

The center is now working to fill the food and gift needs for 211 families with 500 children that it has adopted for Christmas.