With the closing of both Suffolk Farm Fresh locations, the Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center is looking to get more community donations to keep up with the demand for its food pantry.

Prior to Farm Fresh closing, the Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center was receiving 35,000 pounds of food a month from four grocery stores — Food Lion, Walmart and both Farm Fresh locations.

The two Farm Fresh locations provided roughly 16,000 pounds of food, according to Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Lorna Slaughter.

“Having the donations is what allows us to do our part, which is to serve our neighbors in need,” Slaughter said. “Donations play an important role, and without them we have nothing to serve the community.”

The food pantry has had to decrease its distribution days due to the decrease in donations, Slaughter said.

The Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center hopes to have partnerships with the two grocery stores replacing Farm Fresh — Harris Teeter and Kroger — and they are hoping to have a relationship with Aldi.

To handle the new demand, they are asking the community to increase donations to the food pantry.

“There is a large level of importance, and we need people to recognize that this is not a poor and needy problem. The identity has changed so often that people have lost sight of what it means,” Slaughter said. “If our neighbors are suffering, then the entire community is suffering.”

Businesses, schools and others can request a donation box for a donation drive. Suffolk Christian will collect the boxes after the donation drive is over.

Those that want to just donate food to can do so Mondays and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. The food pantry is located at 211 E. Washington St.

“This is our community. It belongs to all of us, and it is the responsibility of everyone,” Slaughter said. “This is a way to show how great a community we are. It’s better to be concerned about others less fortunate than you. We are also very grateful to those that donate regularly.”

Those who want to know more information can contact the fellowship center at 353-0471 and ask for Lorna Slaughter.