LINCOLN - With more than 1,400 Logan County residents relying on the Lincoln/Logan County Food Pantry for help, the pantry president said county residents have risen to the challenge.

"It looks like it's going to be a long winter," Bill Overton said. "Fortunately, the residents of Logan County have been stepping up to help out in recent months, and we have faith that trend will continue."

A food drive is set Friday and Saturday at the Lincoln IGA. Santa Claus will help with the fundraising effort.

Members of Rotaract, the Black Student Union and the Lincoln College honors program will be at Lincoln's Wal-Mart store from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 23 to collect donated food items.

Michelle Baldwin, faculty sponsor of the program, said a similar event was held last year.

"Many of our students want to help and really do understand the need that is out there," Baldwin said.

John Stoltzenburg, Lincoln College director of student activities, will help coordinate the collection. Stoltzenburg hopes to collect more items this year.

The pantry is supported by donations from 32 churches in Logan County and, on average, helps more than 80 families per week. The food pantry is open from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays.

"We've seen about a 30 percent increase this year in requests," Overton said. "It really started picking up in June and July, when the economy started to get sluggish. Now with winter approaching, unfortunately, we're getting busier, but so are the residents of this county."

Students also will collect household items that can be used all winter.

Needed items are peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, soup, macaroni and cheese, soda crackers, fruit juice, toilet paper, diapers, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and feminine products.

kbarlow@pantagraph.com