Food supplies are low in the basement pantry of Christ House in Alexandria this summer as more people are turning to Catholic Charities for help during this time of economic difficulty.

Even without economic woes, summer is always challenging for poorer families that rely on the free lunch programs of government-run schools during the academic months. Christ House on Wheels, a mobile pantry that serves outer-lying counties in the Arlington Diocese, exists to assist many of those struggling families, but the frequency of the program depends on the amount of food in the pantry.

Christ House on Wheels’ last food drop-off was three weeks ago, said Tom Bransfield, case manager at Christ House, and it is on hold until food supplies are replenished.

Christ House is looking for non-perishable items such as: canned meats (corned beef, spam, chicken), canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, canned vegetables (corn, green beans), cereal, pasta, instant potatoes, macaroni and cheese kits or gift cards — Safeway or Giant, in $10 and $20 amounts.

The “staples” of rice and boxed potatoes are always in high demand, Bransfield said, as well as canned fruit and pasta.

Items may be delivered to the shelter at 131 S. West St., Alexandria, at any time other than the dinner time rush — that is, before 4 or after 6:30 p.m.