WAILUKU — Empty and nearly empty shelves show the alarming trend of more food going out than coming in at the Maui Food Bank, the agency relied on for meals by thousands of county residents hardest hit by the economic downturn, The Maui News reported today.

"We haven't had cereal, forever," said warehouse manager Debbie Comilang on Thursday as she gestured toward shelves that normally hold cereal and other starches. "Food. We're just running out of food."

While the sour economy has squeezed the agency's supply of food donations, leaving it with about 20 percent less compared with a year ago, more food is going out its doors to about 100 soup kitchens, churches and groups that distribute meals to residents on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Food banks statewide are having the same struggle.

On Oahu, Hawaii Foodbank President Dick Grimm said his agency had about 14 days' worth of inventory in stock earlier this week, which is less than the ideal 30-day supply. He said people are donating less food, and rising food prices are forcing the food bank to cut back on its purchases.

At the Kauai Food Bank, stocks in its warehouse in Nawiliwili hit an all-time low this week, with the facility having only 38,000 pounds of food, or 15 percent of its capacity of 250,000 pounds. It has run out of rice, its most requested nonperishable food. The Kauai agency serves about 5,000 people per month.

On Maui, the number of individuals served has risen to more than 8,000, possibly an all-time high and a 20 percent increase over the number served at the same time last year, said Marlene Rice, development director at the Maui Food Bank. The high demand comes as food donations to the agency have fallen off by about 20 percent, she said.

Maui Food Bank Executive Director Rich Yust said grocery stores have seen the decline in visitor numbers and have been reducing the amount of food they order.

"Stores don't have as much back stock inventory," he said, which means stores have less to donate to the food bank.

Yust said the combination of higher fuel and retail prices have left many Maui County residents with "more month than money" — simply put, families "just don't have the money for food" after rent and other expenses are paid.

"You really sense the urgency and the need out there," he said, which is something the agency hasn't experienced since the fallout of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

On Thursday, the agency's Wailuku warehouse had about 51,000 pounds of food and beverages, according to Rice. The agency distributes about 5,000 pounds of food per day, but the available amount could be stretched to last as much as three weeks.

Rice said the agency would like to have a three-month supply of food, or about 350,000 pounds.

If food donations continue to lag, the agency can buy a container of food, which costs about $25,000 for 45,000 pounds of food, Yust said.

Rice said the agency's hope rests with the generosity of Maui County residents, and a number of groups and other individuals are gearing up for food drives.

"People in our island community can be part of the solution," she said. "Together, we can make sure no one in our island ohana goes hungry.

"This is the time when Maui really pulls together," she said. "We depend on businesses, schools, places of worship and community service clubs. We depend on them to do food drives to provide food for the hungry in Maui County."

Last year, the Maui Food Bank distributed more than 1 million pounds of food, Rice said. Children represent about half of those receiving food.

To help with a donation of cash or food, call the food bank at 243-9500 or send e-mail to Rice at marlene.rice@maui foodbank.org. The food bank is at 760 Kolu St. in Wailuku, and its Web site is at www.mauifoodbank.org.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. More Maui News at www.mauinews.com.