During its previous fiscal year, which ended June 30, the emergency food pantry at the Greater Salem Community Action Center served 754 people from 295 households.

This year, as families continue to struggle in a troubled economy, those statistics are expected to jump about 10 percent. That higher demand has prompted the center’s staff to ask again for donations from the public.

“Any form of a donation is appreciated,” said Brandi Bobusia, coordinator of the Salem center at 287 Lawrence Road. “If you can give a can, that’s a donation as far as I’m concerned.”

Despite what some may believe, most of the people helped by the food pantry are not food stamp recipients. Instead, they are people not eligible for food stamps but who are struggling to meet ends meet.

Recipients include people who’ve lost jobs and have used up their allotment at other food pantries. Some are trying to keep their utilities from being shut off, and are struggling to stave off an apartment eviction or house foreclosure.

“I do think that people ineligible for food stamps have to tap into pantries,” said Bobusia. “Their expenses are exceeding their income.”

The food pantry, which has two freezers, stores a variety of items, including canned goods, meats and dairy products, and personal hygiene supplies.

“We’re unique in that we can give a variety of food,” said Bobusia. “We just can’t accept anything that’s expired.”

The staff provides families with a three to five day allotment of food at each visit. Recipients can visit the pantry a maximum of three times a year for emergencies. Priority is given to Salem families.

“It’s an ongoing need, not just at Thanksgiving and the holidays,” said Bobusia. “It’s always critical. We’re always seeing people coming in.”

Currently, the food pantry is serving 30 to 33 families every month.

“We see a lot of (the same people) but lately we’re seeing new faces,” said Bobusia. “It’s about half and half.”

And she expects to be busier during the holidays as people spend money on Christmas presents for their children, leaving less cash for food.

The Greater Salem Community Action Center is an outreach center of Rockingham Community Action. RCA, whose main office is located in Portsmouth, provides a variety of services, including fuel assistance, security deposit loans, and child care referrals.

The Salem pantry stocks a variety of foods, including tuna fish, applesauce, pasta, canned vegetables, powered milk, boxes of macaroni and cheese, and soups.

It is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Bobusia said the staff will make arrangements to be available to people who want to drop off a large supply of donations but can’t come to the pantry during its hours of operation.

In addition to food, the center also accepts cash and gift cards. Gift cards from supermarkets and stores that sell food, like Wal-Mart and Target, are ideal, Bobusia said.

Some donations have come from families who have been past users of the food pantry.

“That’s a real nice thing to see,” said Bobusia. “They came in here years ago, got back on their feet and want to repay.”

Donations can be sent to the Greater Salem Community Action Center, 287 Lawrence Road, Salem, NH, 03079. The center can be reached at 893-9172.