Chautauqua County Rural Ministry is ramping up its holiday assistance program, and its executive director says the need is surging.

Located at 319 Washington Ave. in Dunkirk, the ministry is accepting applications for Thanksgiving baskets on today and Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., and from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday. Individuals and families are asked to bring proof of income, proof of residence and Social Security cards for all family members. These are the only dates that applications will be accepted.

“Our very first day we had, I think they said, 30 applications,” Kathleen Peterson, the ministry’s executive director, told the OBSERVER Wednesday.

She said they are planning on doing between 125 and 150 baskets. “Last year it was somewhere in the 80s.”

Each basket includes Thanksgiving fixings, including turkey, potatoes, stuffing, canned food and desserts.

The rising cost of food, notably turkeys, has made it difficult for the Rural Ministry this year, Peterson said. “We’re kind of concerned about being able to meet the need this year,” she said,

She’s noticed an uptick in customers at the Rural Ministry’s soup kitchen and food pantry lately, also located at their Washington Ave. headquarters. “The food costs have gone up so much. With our emergency food pantry, at least 15% are people who have never used the pantry before,” she said.

Peterson said people will cut back on food after paying rent and utilities, and use her facility’s service to make ends meet. The pantry’s been “slammed” the last few months.

On Thanksgiving Day, the ministry’s kitchen will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11 to 1 p.m. at the Washington Ave. headquarters. Breakfast will be served that morning from 8:30 to 9:15. a.m. The meals are open to the public.

If you have any questions, call the Rural Ministry offices at 716-366-1787. Chautauqua County Rural Ministry is a community partner of the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County.