The cost of groceries and other household necessities is putting pressure on families across the Catskills. In Narrowsburg, a longtime community food pantry is seeing that need reflected in the number of households seeking assistance.

The Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry currently serves approximately 70 households, up from about 50 last year. The organization is now working to raise $30,000, recruit 10 new volunteers and expand its visibility in the community as it prepares for 2027.

Erin Fairbanks, vice president of the pantry’s board, says the increase reflects both greater awareness of the pantry’s services and the rising cost of living.

“When times get tight, people are looking for ways to supplement what they’re able to put on their tables,” Fairbanks said.

Operating for 31 years, the pantry began as a partnership among three local churches. It serves residents within a 10-mile radius of Narrowsburg, offering weekly food distributions at St. Francis Xavier Church, along with a free shop where families can select donated items. The pantry also organizes special distributions for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, as well as an Adopt a Family program during the holiday season.

Fairbanks says the people who turn to the pantry come from a range of circumstances, including families dealing with health problems, job disruptions and changes in living situations. She also wants to challenge misconceptions about who needs food assistance.

“Many of the pantry families work and they’re just not able to kind of make ends meet to cover all of their basic needs,” she said.

The pantry has also expanded its services to include fresh foods such as meat, butter and eggs, and launched a delivery program for people who are homebound or have transportation challenges.

Fairbanks says offering choices is an important part of making the experience welcoming and respectful.

“We believe a lot in providing a really dignified experience where people can have choice,” she said.

The pantry is entirely volunteer-run and donor-funded. Money raised through its annual fundraising efforts allows organizers to plan food purchases in advance, buy in bulk and offer a wider selection of items.

The pantry will host a volunteer open house Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. Other upcoming fundraising opportunities include the Union Holiday Market on Dec. 5 and a Shop for Good event at One Grand Books on Dec. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. Twenty-five percent of sales during the event will benefit the pantry.

For Fairbanks, volunteering is about more than providing food. It’s also an opportunity to build connections and strengthen the community.

“Volunteering at a place like the pantry is so incredibly grounding and accessible,” she said. “It just feels so good because you’re doing something incredibly tangible, which is feeding people.”