Area food pantries have seen numbers of visits soar during the recent economic downturn - some by as much as 80 percent - leaving administrators scrambling to add distribution days and volunteers.

The one thing that helps them get through it, they say, are the donations of the fresh fruits and vegetables, through the Daily Herald's Giving Garden program.

The annual summer-long harvest, when area gardeners bring in surplus fruits and vegetables to their local food pantries, begins this weekend and runs through the end of September.

Last year, gardeners stepped up to donate more than 80,000 pounds of produce.

"The fresh food is so much healthier," says Charles McLimans, executive director of the Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry in Naperville. "Whenever you can offer fresh food, it's preferable."

McLimans and his colleagues who run area food pantries declined to cite specific produce they'd desire, but nutrition experts recommend vegetables like spinach, broccoli and tomatoes for their nutrients as well as antioxidants.

Any leafy greens, however, are nutritious, while crops like carrots and onions that are grown from seed and are easy vegetables to get started with, are also welcome additions.

When McLimans' volunteers get enough donated produce, it allows them to set up a market of sorts for their clients to choose from the major food groups, including proteins and soups, grains and starches, and fruits and vegetables.

"It allows us to provide more healthy offerings," he says.

The Naperville food pantry reports a 60 percent increase - or more than 100 families per month - in demand for their services, over last year. Consequently, they've added a fourth distribution date to accommodate the need.

"The demand is staggering," McLimans says simply.

Thelma Talamantes, general assistance director for Wheeling Township, says both volunteers and the families they help are looking forward to the produce, picked from local gardens.

"It supplements our food pantry tremendously," Talamantes says, "especially in these hard times, when families cannot shop like they were used to when they had jobs.

"Now," she adds, "they can complete a meal."

Wheeling Township's pantry, located in Arlington Heights, has seen a 42 percent increase over the last year, she says.

"Mostly these are new people, that have never been to a food pantry before," Talamantes says. "With people losing their jobs and their homes, we're drawing people who never thought they'd be coming to a food pantry."

Volunteers at Willow Creek Community Church's Care Center in Hoffman Estates, report one of the largest increases, across the suburbs, with 84 percent more guest visits than last year, bringing them up to 3,000 visits per month.

"We're really busy," says Josie Guth, director, simply.

Of those coming to their door, roughly 30 percent are new, she says, with the rest having to come more often because of changes in their economic situation.

Guth draws from an active list of 450 volunteers, just to keep up with the increased demand. They've also stepped up distribution days, offering food twice daily from Monday through Thursday, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Having fresh produce to offer just sweetens the mix, Guth says, uplifting everyone involved.

"Our guests love it," she says. "It's so well received in the summer. If we get enough, we like to set it out on a market stand."

All of which points to the need for area gardeners to start planting, and get ready to share their bounty with families less fortunate.