For more than 30 years Pilmoor Memorial United Methodist Church has provided needy residents with money to help pay their utility bills and with food for their families. But the rising costs of groceries and a shrinking source of revenue is threatening the church's assistance program, a church official said.

Dick Horn, director of the church's Emergency Food Center, told the Board of Commissioners Monday that the center desperately needs funding to replenish its pantry shelves and to help residents with their utility bills.

Grocery prices have increased and donations have decreased, which has made it difficult to assist others, Horn said.

"A half-gallon of milk now costs $2.89," he said.

The center's budget last year $18,702, money that was raised by contributions and donations from area residents, businesses and civic organizations; plus money from the United Way and F.E.M.A. Of that money, the center used $17,263 to provide food assistance to 133 families (378 people), supply power, fuel and water to 43 families, and rental assistance to seven families, Horn said. That left the center with a current balance of less than $1,500.

Horn, who said donations are way down this year, also said to the commissioners that Currituck County donated $5,000 to Albemarle Food Bank last year. However, when people from Currituck sought assistance at the food bank, they were referred to Pilmoor's emergency center, Horn said.

The center works closely with Currituck's Social Services Department, which verifies people who are in need of assistance. Many of the people the center provides food to are those who have recently applied for food stamps, Horn said. It usually takes about a week for a resident to receive food stamps after applying for them. In the meantime, the center provides them groceries while they are waiting for their stamps to arrive.

"Through our Emergency Food Center, we provide, on short notice, unprepared food to those in Currituck County who are permanent or temporary residents and are in need of food assistance," Horn said.

The center also tries to assist people who are waiting for their first paycheck, and when there has been a delay in a person's Social Security benefits.

Horn said that when he asked commissioners for money in the past, they expressed concerns about whether public funds should be donated to a church. But Horn said that while the emergency center operates out of Pilmoor Memorial, the center is a 501C3 non-profit organization that serves everyone regardless of religious affiliation.

"We are a mission for all people in Currituck," Horn said.

Chairman Barry Nelms thanked Horn for the work he does and assured him that his request will be discussed during the commissioners next budget meeting.