When Marlene Kunz looks around at the empty shelves in the food pantry area at Northville Civic Concern, she realizes she has never seen them look this bare in the 27 years she has been its director.

As hard times have hit Northville families, need for the non-profit's services has gone up while donations have gone down, she said. Kunz hopes that food, clothing, toiletry, monetary and other donations will increase soon. The volunteer-run organization serves Northville families who apply for its services and meet income and other criteria.

"Everybody has to do something to step up in today's economy," she said. "It isn't going to hurt anybody to give up something."

Donations can be made by dropping them off at Civic Concern, located in the Highland Lakes Plaza, on Seven Mile Road east of Northville Road.