The amount of goods being donated to area food banks is down, despite more food drives being held this holiday season.

People seem to be giving less because of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, said David Karr, director of the American Red Cross Regional Food Distribution Center.

"Food collections have been very busy," he said. "We've had more people doing food drives than ever before, but the numbers as far as the quantity of food have been down. There seems to be less people giving as much.

"I'd like to blame the storms and that people are just tapped out," Karr said. "They've been giving more often to other places."

More food has been brought from outside the state, Karr said. This costs more money because things have to be shipped and transported into Michigan, he added.

Mary Scott, director of programs for Gateway Community Services in East Lansing, said she isn't worried about a food shortage because she feeds a small number of people, but she is concerned about how large shelters will feed the hungry.

"That is a big worry for larger shelters in the community," she said. "As far as our shelter goes, we really don't start receiving our donations until after the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm anticipating hearing from folks this week."

The Greater Lansing Food Bank, which works to get food to people in the Lansing area, has also asked for more donations this year, saying people in need have increased.

Other factors have contributed to the shortage, Karr said.

"I've talked to people who are laid off and they don't have the ability to give at the same level," he said. "They just can't do it the way they have done it in the past."

Overall, the need for food has increased by about 18 percent, Karr said. The shortage in donations could impact people by February, he added.

"In February, when it's cold and we are not collecting food, that is when we are going to fall short," he said. "It starts when there isn't fresh food coming in. We have to rely on what is coming in now."

Because funding for some shelters was cut, programs that provide food or a place to stay have had to look for other ways to garner supplies.

"Programs are funded through government grants and car donations, and most recently private donations," said Patrick Patterson, vice president of Lansing operations for the Volunteers of America Michigan. "Our funding was curtailed greatly — we have lost 50 percent of our revenue from the car program."

December is usually a time of year when people are feeling more generous and give to programs that help people in need, Patterson said.

"It's been a terrible year and we have not closed (the New Hope Day Center)," he said. "The community has responded."