Food banks across the county may be facing an increase of people seeking their services after the latest cuts in the federal food stamp program.

According to Reuters, more than 500,000 Americans receiving food stamp benefits started to be taken off the rolls April 1, a result of government requirements linking the assistance to an individual’s finding a job and working.

To keep their access to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) for more than three months, able-bodied adults ages 18 to 49 who don’t have children or other dependents must work, volunteer, or enroll in a job-training program for 20 hours a week or more.

The Pa. Department of Human Services listed nearly 16,000 monthly SNAP recipients in Butler County in the first seven months of this year.

Cindy Cipoletti, executive director of the Lighthouse Foundation and its food pantry at 1302 E. Cruikshank Road in Middlesex Township, said she’s noticed an increase in the number of people seeking the food bank’s help.

“We see about 300 families per week. When I started here four years ago, we had 150 families per week,” said Cipoletti.

She said the food bank services 655 households in Butler County totaling 2,700 people.

“We are averaging 50 new families a week signing up,” she said.

Cipoletti said recipients were eligible to come to the food bank twice a month.

“Families that do receive SNAP benefits have had them reduced. I’ve had seniors tell me they get $16 in SNAP benefits a month,” she said.

The Rev. John Pistorius, pastor of St. John’s Reformed Church in Chicora and president of the Petroleum Valley Ministerium that runs the Petroleum Valley Food Cupboard, said he has also seen an increase in demand.

“I’ve noticed. Recently we were down below 70 (families and individuals). Now we are up near 80, and we are expecting it to go up,” he said.

Amy Tebay, administrative assistant at the Salvation Army, 313 W. Cunningham St., said its food bank has seen an increase in demand. “We’ve been doing 45 to 50 families a month. Now, it’s 65 to 80. We’re getting new ones every month,” she said.

“We’re not sure what the cause of it is. Some of it is because it’s summer. We always have more in the summer because the kids are home,” Tebay said.

The Salvation Army distributes nonperishable food on Tuesdays and Thursdays the second and third weeks of the month.

Pistorius said the Petroleum Valley food bank, based at Fairview Methodist Church in Petrolia, distributes food once a month.

The food bank’s area is roughly the same as the attendance area of Karns City High School, he said, with the exception of East Brady, which has its own food bank. However, he said, “We welcome anyone in need to come and see us.”

Cipoletti said Lighthouse provides a supply of boxed, canned and dried food as well as fresh meat and fruits and vegetables.

Supplies are holding steady she said thanks to “a lot of food drives for us by local organizations and group donations,” as well Lighthouse’s membership in the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Pistorius said companies, individuals, schools and churches contribute money, volunteers and food regularly, so supplies haven’t been affected yet.

Cipoletti said many area churches make a regular monthly contribution of either money or food to the Lighthouse.

Pistorius said the community has been generous with volunteers, food drives and donations.

One food bank that hasn’t seen in increase in demand is the one the St. Vincent De Paul Society runs at 400 E. Locust St.

In fact, according to Jim Owens, president of the Butler District of the society, the number of families seeking aid in the first seven months of 2016 has decreased from the same period in 2015.

“I would attribute that to much lower unemployment,” said Owens. Still he said, the food bank sees 30 to 50 new applicants a month.