The economic downturn is leaving food charities hungrier than usual for supplies.

The Hawaii Foodbank has about 14 days' worth of inventory of stock, less than their ideal 30-day supply of food to pass on to nonprofit agencies around Oahu, said Foodbank President Dick Grimm.

Along with people donating less, food costs have forced cutbacks in purchases.

“;A prime example is that last year we bought a container of rice for $7.20 a bag, but it's $11.96 a bag now,”; Grimm said. “;You see a lot of consumers are buying less, therefore retails markets and groceries are buying less from the manufacturers, the manufacturers are producing less and the growers are growing less.”;

The dwindling food supply trickles down to the 250 agencies the Foodbank serves, including Catholic Charities Hawaii, which services about 1,300 people a year, about half of them children.

Catholic Charities Hawaii Division Administrator Diane Terada said food is going out faster than it is replenished.

“;We know that because we'll occasionally get a call from other agencies saying, 'We're out of food. Can we send this client over?' - when we're also out of food,”; she said. “;We're noticing an increase in those types of calls, so we know this is a communitywide issue.”;

Food donations could spike since the holidays are around the corner. But there are other signs of a shaky economy. Catholic Charities also has employment programs, and Terada said families are having more difficulty finding and retaining jobs.

Terada said the agency is increasing calls for more donations. Canned meats, canned prepared meals, dry cereal or saimin, rice and canned fruits and vegetables are most in need.

Grimm also said that donations are most welcome. However, he recommends anyone wanting to help should offer money.

“;We have the capability to buy it in containers from the mainland,”; Grimm said. “;Food donations from families might be more difficult. It's better to send some money so we can purchase it in container loads.”;