CLERMONT, Fla. — Volunteers at a food pantry in Clermont are asking the community for help after shelves were wiped dry during spring break.

Diane Speranza, a long-time volunteer at New Beginnings, said stocking shelves has never been more important.

“There’s a great need for food in the community, especially now since we just got over spring break and the kids were home,” said Speranza.

She said anywhere between 50 and 100 families stop by every week, but they are busier during the holidays. Volunteers fix up bags for free based on the food pantry's supply, but Speranza said their shelves are limited at the moment.

The team is reaching out for help on social media, and with more than 100 shares on Facebook and posts in multiple groups, store manager Jenny Hightower says donations have been pouring in.

“As soon as I made that post, everybody was called to action,” Hightower said. “We’ve had so many come in and make donations to us because of that post, and it’s just so beneficial, the power of social media.”

She said the food pantry partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to stock up on meats, but they rely on donations to keep shelves full.

“We get to the point where the pantry is empty — we’re like, 'Oh my God, what are we going to do?'" Hightower said. "We have a family come in — we can’t provide the food that we normally do, but God always shows up."

With summer break approaching, the team is preparing. They accept anything as long as it’s nonperishable and not expired. The team also accepts frozen food.

Donations can be dropped off during store hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at 415 Citrus Tower Blvd. in Clermont.

They split the food with their second pantry at the Woodwinds apartments, but leaders say that site is only available for low-income families and residents.