As the digits on the average gas pump in the Lakeway Area spin upward, so do the numbers of those visiting a Morristown community kitchen — in direct correlation according to the man in charge.

To further complicate the situation, inventory is at an all-time low.

"It’s the working folk who are suffering," said Daily Bread founder Hobe Williams, as he sat in a booth near the kitchen Thursday. He was making preparations for the upcoming food drive that will hopefully restock the empty shelves in the basement storeroom.

City and rural letter carriers for the Unites States Postal Service will pick up non-perishable food items left in plastic bags at residents’ mailboxes during their normal mail delivery times Saturday. Their efforts are part of the national USPS Stamp Out Hunger campaign.

And it’s none-to-soon for the Daily Bread.

The busy season is just two weeks away. Hamblen County schools will be out June 22, and hungry kids will be visiting the kitchen with their parents during the summer break.

"Fuel costs have put a crunch on us," Williams said. "People can’t afford to put gas in their car and donate to us. And the working poor can’t put gas in their car and food on their table."

"Our numbers have doubled," said Pat Stroud, a 13-year volunteer at the community kitchen and one of 150 who regularly prepare and serve 10 meal times per week.

The Daily Bread’s location, which is almost directly centered between the city’s two housing projects, draws in thousands every year.

"Fifty-seven thousand plates of food were served during 2007," Williams said.

To fill those bare shelves downstairs, Williams needs non-perishable food items that can be used in normal meal preparation: canned green beans and other vegetables, tomatoes and fruits like peaches and pears.

"We’ll take whatever people are able to give," he said.

Williams will be waiting at the main post office dock on South Cumberland Street Saturday as the letter carriers pull up to weigh their plastic bags of foodstuffs.

He’s hoping for another year like 2002, when 18,000 lbs. of non-perishables were collected in Hamblen County. The drive has tapered off since, with approximately 10,000 lbs. collected last year.

"If we don’t get a good food donation, we can’t feed these hungry families," Williams said.

With a diesel truck and forklift borrowed from Walker’s Supply and volunteer labor provided by employee Keith Knight, he will organize and transport the donated items to a warehouse near the Daily Bread.

Any items that the community kitchen can’t use, such as baby food and individual-portion canned food items, will be shared with area agencies like the Youth Emergency Shelter and Central Services.

The Daily Bread also shares its food inventory with area churches that routinely give out food baskets.

Although the Daily Bread receives no funding from area agencies, there is one cost-effective measure that helps keep the Daily Bread in operation.

"We don’t have any salaries to pay," he said. "All the money we receive goes directly to food."

There are supporters who send in regular checks, and area businesses also provide financial donations, but there is a more tactile way to become involved.

Williams encourages local employees to take a business lunch at the Daily Bread. For a discretionary donation, they can enjoy a home cooked meal by one of the volunteer teams from area churches and social groups.

"We serve good ole country cooking," he said. "A lot of our volunteers don’t have family at home to cook for anymore."

Lunch is served at the kitchen Monday-Saturday. Dinner is served Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information on volunteer opportunities with the Daily Bread or to make a donation, call 423-581-7733.