A community center in Stratford is sounding the alarm on the increased need for food pantry donations as kids head back to school.

Sterling Community Center says the shelves in its food pantry are looking a little bare.

They serve hundreds of people every week, including kids in the school district.

While many people tend to only think about food pantries around the holidays, Executive Director Amanda Meeson says back to school time could actually be the time pantries need food most.

"Our food pantry is in the basement of an incredibly vibrant building, so even as you see these families come in and out, picking up their kiddos," Meeson says. "A lot of folks aren't going downstairs and seeing how staggering it is."

Meeson says other food pantries are dealing with the same challenges this time of year.