It was great to hear this week from the Butler County Food Bank’s manager that new State Food Purchase Program funding has resulted in the food bank receiving more food than ever.

On the other hand, the food bank has not seen an increase in volunteers to handle the influx in resources. That’s a bit troubling, considering an ongoing inability for some county residents to obtain food.

Food insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a lack of consistent access to enough food to remain active and healthy.

In Butler County, this lack is not only the result of low-income residents not having enough money to purchase food, but also a lack of places to buy it.

A study last year by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, found that one in eight people face food security, both nationally and in Pennsylvania. Butler County fared better at one out of 10 people, although the study found a food insecurity rate of one in six area children.

But some Butler County residents — especially seniors — have had difficulty accessing food due to the closure of grocery stores in Butler city, Butler Township, Evans City, Chicora and Saxonburg in recent years.

There’s only a plan to replace one of those sites with another grocery store, thereby furthering the county’s status as a food desert.

Recently, U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey and Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill that would increase the stock at Pittsburgh’s food bank and, as a result, resources would trickle down to county pantries.

While that effort is commendable, it doesn’t address a lack of volunteers to distribute the food.

In today’s Eagle story on the county food bank, participants from food pantries across the county discussed how they try to make a difference by transporting food to local pantries from the county food bank and holding community dinners.

But Janine Kennedy, the county food bank’s manager, said the food bank’s warehouse needs more volunteers. She noted that to sustain the food bank’s growth in collected food, more volunteers will need to step up.

We hope they do. Butler County residents are generous in nature.

Those looking for a way to help fellow residents in need should consider volunteering for the food bank.

A little bit of help can go a long way.