REDDING, Calif .– The increasing cost of everything makes it harder for people to buy necessities like food.

Garry Coombs says if the Dignity Health Connected Living Food Bank wasn’t there, he might not be able to pay his bills or put gas in his car.

“I should give up other things, and you know I love my life, but I hate having to give up, you know, not using electricity or gas to donate or drive around my car if I had to buy the food that I get out of here, ”Coombs said.

Coombs served our country in Vietnam, and he says living on a fixed income can be tough.

“I need it because of all the food they give us, fresh vegetables, we get canned goods, we get milk, eggs and cheese, that’s a lot of expensive things that you have to go to. to the store and buy, and I appreciate everything I get. here, ”Coombs said.

Shurla Lovejoy is the COO of Dignity Health Connected Living, and she says seniors aren’t the only ones in need.

“We are seeing more families; Lately it’s the older people who are affected the most, but at this time of year it’s the families we see most in need, ”Lovejoy said.

But Lovejoy says the food bank is trying to help everyone, but that depends on how much food they have on hand or how many donations they receive.

“Especially on Friday, they’ll call and say, hey, I don’t have food to get my kids through the weekend. What you can do is not good because sometimes we can help them, and sometimes we can’t. It just depends on what we have on hand, ”Lovejoy said.

Lovejoy says more and more people are coming for food, but donations are declining.

“We’re seeing a decrease in donations this year due to supply and demand, and there are a lot of empty shelves in the grocery store, and people are struggling to keep their shelves fully stocked,” said Lovejoy.

Lovejoy told Action News Now that their brown bag and emergency food programs are the most difficult due to lack of donations, and they need your help to donate.

Lovejoy says the Dignity Health Connected Living Food Bank is still accepting donations. You need to call ahead and schedule a time when you want to donate.