The traditional holiday food drives are under way in communities across the area, and their need is in the numbers.

The White Oak Ecumenical Outreach Ministries' food pantry in Swansboro distributes special holiday boxes at Thanksgiving and Christmas to families who need a little help in putting a holiday meal on their table. The families are identified with the help of area schools and churches, and this year the list is a bit longer than last year.

"Last year we had 179 (families) on the list. This year there's 235; that's a pretty big jump," said volunteer Clete Ketner.

It's a similar situation in Morehead City, where Martha's Mission Cupboard is finding it hard to keep shelves stocked for the rising number of families being referred to their doors.

"We need everything," said manager Jan Maxwell. "We're swamped every day we're open. We're seeing over 40 families each day, and we'll keep seeing that many or more through Christmas."

It may be due in part to tough economic times, Maxwell said.

"It has hit everybody hard," she said.

Ketner said he can see the impact of the economy on the need for assistance.

"But I can also see the upswing of people giving," he said.

Churches, schools and civic organizations around the area are busy this time of year with food collection drives and other projects to help families. And in Carteret County there's at least one first-time project in the works.

This Thanksgiving is the debut of the Crystal Coast Boat Load of Food drive, an effort to help families in conjunction with the Salvation Army.

"We just wanted to give back to the community," said Morehead City resident Lindsay Williford, the event's organizer.

With a coastal theme in mind, the goal is to collect as much food as can fit into an 18-foot boat.

"I'm hoping to get the sucker full. I'm going to do everything I can to fill it up," said Williford, who wants to make the food drive an annual event.

Non-perishable food items can be dropped off through Nov. 21 at the following collection sites: Live Oak Veterinary Hospital in Beaufort, Ultimate Yacht Service in Atlantic Beach, Bogue Sound Boat Company in Morehead City, All About Canvas in Newport, and the Salvation Army office in Morehead City.

Staff writer Jannette Pippin can be reached at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 910-382-2557.