County employees gave back at their annual Christmas party Dec. 10, collecting 454 canned food items for those in need.

The cans were split between Anson Crisis Ministries and Feed My Lambs.

Employees in the past adopted a family and bought gifts.

The donations could not have come at a better time. Both organizations have been experiencing lean times.

Ann James, the director of Anson Crisis Ministries, said since August she has been limited in what she could get from Second Harvest Food Bank.

She estimated 20 people every day come in for a voucher, which allows them to take a grocery cart full of food.

While donations increase during the holidays, the number of clients using the ministry also increases.

"More people who come in here now have been laid off," she said. She has also seen more new clients or individuals who have not visited the ministry in years.

Lisa Holt, the executive director of Feed My Lambs, has also struggled to provide for clients.

Previously, anyone visiting the organization could take 20 canned goods, but recently that number has been cut back to 10. One person used to take 55 different food items, but now only 40 are allowed.

Neither organization could estimate how many canned goods had been donated in December.