The Rhode Island Community Food Bank sounded the alarm last week that because of a dramatic incraease in the number of people served monthly — 82,000 or a 50% increase from pre-pandemic levels — it is being stretched to supply its 147 member food pantries.

However, although the shelves at the Westbay Marketplace looked virtually bare Friday afternoon, Paul Salera, president of Westbay Community Action, was not unduly alarmed.

“Luckily,” he said, “we get thousands of pounds [of food] a week. Our community steps up all the time.”

Joanne McGunagle, director of Comprehensive Community Action Program in Cranston, said Monday that the Food Bank has thus far not reduced deliveries. The CCAP pantry serves 1,100 families every month.

“[RI Community Food Bank] is doing a good job of getting [food] to the community and food banks,” she said.

Westbay Marketplace receives free weekly deliveries from the Food Bank in the beginning of the week, which Salera explained is why many of the shelves looked barren on Friday. Those using Westbay are permitted to “shop” at no cost once a week. They can select from the dry goods on the shelves as well as produce, dairy, breads and meats. The busiest day is Wednesday with as many as 150 “shoppers.” Not counting Friday’s tally, 427 people picked up food from Westbay last week. In addition to food, there are frequently other supplies available including paper goods and detergents.

“With the holidays coming the community really steps up,” said Salera. Among the consistent donors, he named were the Lakewood Baptist and Greenwood Presbyterian Churches, BJs, Trader Joes, Dave’s Market, Shop & Shop, Target and Gel’s Kitchen and HarborOne Bank. Food drives like that recently completed by BankRI customers are a big boost. Wright’s Farm consistently donates 260 to 275 gallons of milk weekly. Restaurants and bakeries also contribute.

Much of last week’s coverage of Food Bank shortages focused on East Bay pantries and East Providence Community Action. Noting it takes him as much as an hour to get home to Rehoboth, a trip that took less than a half hour, Salera speculated the Washington Bridge may have impacted donations from businesses as well as demand.

Kate MacDonald, spokeswoman for the Food Bank, said in addition to Westbay Marketplace, the bank provides 2,000 boxes of food monthly through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, commonly called the senior box program. In Warwick the boxes are distributed by the Pilgrim Senior Center.

MacDonald attributes the demand for food to a combination of factors including the end of pandemic related assistance programs, inflation and the higher cost of food and the diminishing impact of SNAP benefits. She said the average SNAP benefit is $350 a month, which is lasting a family two weeks.

The Food Bank distributed 18.3 million pounds of food last year. MacDonald estimates that will increase by 2 million pounds this year. She praised organizations and individuals that have worked to address the need through food drives, but said monetary donations actually go the furthest. The Food Bank buys food in volume at wholesale prices.

“Even the smallest dollar amount is helpful,” she said.

According to its most recent annual report, the Food Bank purchases 42% of the product delivered to member pantries. Donations of food make up 28% and the balance comes from Federal USDA Commodities. At one time member pantries were charged a nominal fee for the administration of the program based on the food they received, but that has been discontinued, MacDonald said.

MacDonald doesn’t see the demand for food letting up.

“Think we’re right in the thick of it right now,” she said. She urged individuals and groups seeking to address the situation to contact the Food Bank to get a firsthand look at the operation and the empty warehouse shelving to see for themselves the scope of the operation.