Squeezed by rapidly rising prices for fuel and food, more people are turning to Whatcom County food banks and soup kitchens for help.

The local agencies in turn say they’re seeing demands increase in some cases by double digits. Meanwhile, the state agency that provides funds for emergency food programs reported a 15 percent jump statewide in the number of new clients going to hunger organizations.

“We’re seeing more families. We also are seeing some guys who work in the area eating here. They’re telling us the cost of getting to work and everything has gone up because of fuel prices,” said Ron Buchinski, executive director of Lighthouse Mission Ministries.

The mission serves free breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week to the homeless who stay at its shelter on West Holly Street as well as to the hungry who walk in off the streets. Overall, it served nearly 20 percent more meals in May than the same time last year.

“I’m also seeing a greater proportion of people who do have housing but they can’t afford to eat,” said John Euen, the mission’s food service manager.

People also reported feeling pinched by a cold spring that forced them to pay heating bills longer than they normally would, according to Buchinski.

Such sharp increases in such little time are forcing people to make hard choices.

“A lot of times it’s the food budget that gets cut back,” said Shawn Collins of the Opportunity Council.

The nonprofit provides social services such as energy assistance and free meals served through its Maple Alley Inn.

The Bellingham Food Bank also is seeing more people in need.

“Our volume of customer visits right now is so high and growing at such an unprecedented rate,” said Mike Cohen, executive director.

The food bank has seen a 17 percent increase in visits for May, compared to the same time last year. Since 2006, the number of food bank visits have soared as high as 40 percent, according to Cohen.

“It’s the groceries that pushed most people over the edge,” Cohen said.

Milk prices, for example, have increased by 15 percent compared to May of last year, according to Bureau of Labor statistics.

Flour and chicken have climbed by 52 percent and nearly 7 percent respectively.

Meanwhile, gas prices in Bellingham are at record rates, with a gallon of unleaded selling for an average of $4.45.

Price spikes also are hitting hunger organizations hard, with some reporting that they can’t afford to supplement their food donations with purchases of milk and eggs, even though they can buy them at reduced rates.

“The price is just not feasible for me to do that,” said Sharon Robinson, director of the Ferndale Food Bank, about buying eggs or milk. “The challenge I’m finding is keeping enough money coming in to purchase food.”

The Ferndale Food Bank used to go through about 30,000 pounds of food a month. Last month, it was 37,000 pounds.

“We’re seeing an increase also of people that haven’t had to use the food bank in a few years and are coming back,” she said. “New clients that have never used the food bank, that used to be contributors, are now finding themselves in a position that they have to use the food bank.”

Susan Eichrodt, program manager for the state Emergency Food Assistance Program, said other food banks throughout the state have reported similar situations of former contributors now needing help.

Statewide, the number of new clients to food banks and other organizations that feed the hungry have jumped by 15 percent from January to March, the latest figures available, Eichrodt said.

Food banks are struggling not only with increasing need but with the price of gasoline. Some volunteers who drive their vehicles to pick up donations now are asking to be reimbursed.

And some food banks have told Eichrodt they now must decide whether a particular donation of food is large enough to warrant sending out a truck to pick it up, given the escalating expense of transportation.

“It really is a serious consideration,” she said. “That is having a huge impact on food banks.”

Linda Nageotte, president and chief executive officer of Seattle-based Food Lifeline, said this is the first time since she started working with food banks in 1991 that an economic issue is “completely negatively impacting both hungry people and the food bank system that is trying to feed them.”

The agency collects large amounts of food for distribution to organizations, including Bellingham Food Bank. It’s already $35,000 over its fuel budget.

The outlook isn’t getting better, even as hunger organizations say they are grateful for continued donations from supermarkets and strapped contributors.

“I don’t see any slowing down,” Robinson said. “With gas prices currently and the predicted gas price by August of over $5 a gallon, it’s even going to get worse.”