ANDERSON — Several Anderson-area businesses are joining together to provide food to help a local food bank.

Between now and Dec. 23, the Anderson businesses will collect canned food and dry food to give to The Good Neighborhood Cupboard.

Famous Labels on at 302 Pearman Dairy Rd., Grace’s Coffee Shop at 1510 N. Murray Ave., Reeves Aluminum at 2410 W. Whitner St., Stoney’s Muffler at 205 S.C. 28 Bypass and Roy’s Diner at 1527 S. Main St. will collect the donations during their normal business hours. The group hopes to help the cupboard’s shelves stocked between now and the holidays.

“They’ve been in business for 27 years and helped thousands and thousands,” said Angelique Powell, one of the group’s organizers, regarding the cupboard. “Now it is our turn to help them help those in our community who are without food.”

Good Neighbor Cupboard shut down on Aug. 28, when it ran out of food to help its clients, and reopened three days later.

Floyd Berry, president of the nonprofit organization, said at that time that the number of clients who were coming to the cupboard is increasing while the number of donations is decreasing.

Berry said the number of families requesting assistance rose to 61 in one day in September, up from an average of 30-40 a day.

The cupboard has been helped by donations by the county as well.

During the Great Southeast BalloonFest this year, Anderson County collected food from attendees for the cupboard. Most recently, said Michelle Strange, communications director for the county, Anderson County residents donated more than 800 pounds of food during their “Tarp Your Load Campaign.”

The Anderson County Museum also will be accepting donations on Oct. 25 for the food pantry during the museum’s 25th anniversary celebration.

The cupboard is in need of peanut butter, jelly, grits, cereal, canned meat, canned vegetables, dry beans, macaroni, baby food, baby formula, sugar, flour, soup, rice and pork and beans.

Donations of cash can be mailed or dropped off to the cupboard at The Good Neighbor Cupboard, 313 S. Tower St., Anderson, SC 29625.