OREGON -- As the holiday season approaches, Toledo-area food banks are anticipating an increase in the demand for food. This demand will test the resources of agencies already dealing with a demand for food in 2011 that has exceeded the demand in 2010. 

Food pantries such as Oregon-based Food For Thought rely on larger operations like Seagate Food Bank to stock their pantries.  Sam Melden, Chief Thought Officer at Food For Thought, says partnerships with the larger food banks are crucial to his agency being able to feed the 1400 families on their list. 

"We work a lot with Seagate, other private corporations and private donations," Melden said. 

Churches with food pantries also rely on donations from larger food banks and those churches in turn give food to their congregants and other families in the community. Deliverance House of God on North Detroit Avenue has an open invitation for Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday, November 19 from noon to 5 p.m. 

Pastor Sherleene Presley says there are many people in the neighborhood surrounding Deliverance that rely heavily on food banks.  "You see people going place to place trying to feed their families and children," Pastor Presley said.

To learn more about Food For Thought, go to www.FreeLunchToledo.com or to donate, visit http://freelunchtoledo.com/#/donate.