Nick Martinez, who heads up the Thomas Merton Family Center in Bridgeport, says recent state and federal budget cuts are hitting his nonprofit hard.

"As people who receive benefits from SNAP and Medicaid and other programs begin to feel the effects of those cuts, we're going to see a big increase in demand," Martinez told News 12.

That increase - combined with the effects of Connecticut Food Share providing less food to nonprofits such as the Merton Center - is expected to result in less available food for the public.

"We can only do so much with what we have to work with," Martinez said.

"We need private individuals who are willing to do things like prepare meals at home that we can heat and serve here. We're looking for people who are willing to provide ingredients that we can cook in our soup kitchen and give to the families that rely on us for breakfast and lunch," Martinez said.