SUNBURY — In the first four months of 2008, a city-based organization that provides emergency food and shelter to individuals in the Valley has had almost half as many food orders as it had in all of 2007, its executive director said Thursday.

In fact, said Catherine Teisher, executive director of Haven Ministry Inc., some of those who used to donate food are now the ones in need of help.

“Needs,” she says, “are exploding. We do about 200 a month. In 2007, we had a total of 1,930 food orders.”

The spike, Teisher said, is because of recent increases in gasoline, food and utility prices.

“We’ve had a lot of elderly people,” she said. “Social Security won’t go up because of food and gas prices. Working families need more money for gas. ... Needs are becoming so much greater. Expenses are going up. ... Income doesn’t (go) up at the same time. Something has to break at some point.”

She said she noticed an influx in the amount of requests for help within the past six months, as gasoline and utility prices began to climb.

Despite the increase in food prices, Teisher said the United Way agency is still receiving food donations, although it is lacking in some needed types.

“We are in need of canned meats,” she said. “Tuna, chicken, Spam. We have most trouble getting those. ...We are low on frozen items. It’s one of the most needed.”

More families are seeking help from another Valley food pantry, Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Watsontown, an organizer said.

Wanda Derr said the group receives $3,300 a quarter from a state fund to buy food to distribute to families. The group also accepts donations.

“The givings aren’t as great as they used to be,” Derr said, “but as long as the good Lord lets us continue to do this, we will do our best to continue to do it, too.”

Derr attributes some of the need to a lack of adequate employment opportunities in the Valley.

“It’s not just the prices of food,” she said. “Let’s face it. There’s no real big, good substantial jobs in this area. A lot of businesses have gone out. ... We have a lot more (families) now. In fact, five new families came just last month, and it seems like every month there are new people signing up.”

Holidays are the busiest time, Derr said, when on average 80 to 90 families seek food. There are times when the number rises to about 120 families.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors, housed in the Delaware Township building, has been in operation for more than 20 years. Derr has been organizer for three. It is open on the first and third Wednesdays of every month.