Volunteer Sue Currie stocks a cart at the Lighthouse Foundation's food pantry. The Lighthouse Foundation’s food pantry is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at its facility, 116 Brown Hill Road, Middlesex Township. Submitted photo

As inflation reaches record highs and gas prices soar, charities, food pantries and assistance organizations across Butler County are preparing and bracing themselves for an influx of requests for aid.

At St. Vincent de Paul in Butler, director of services Lisa Slupe said that requests haven’t skyrocketed yet, but she anticipates more to come. The center provides assistance to more than 15,000 clients each year.

“I’m waiting for the downfall,” she said. “As far as our food bank, it’s starting to go up a little bit, but it had dropped, and I think it is because of the extra government funding that they got. I am looking to see that it is going to go up. With the price of gas, people just can’t afford (things).”

St Vincent de Paul operates a food bank, which is open from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 146 N. Monroe St. The center also offers rental assistance, along with utilities assistance in conjunction with the Center for Community Resources.

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