Every year for almost a decade, Least of These, a group in Christian County, has helped those who don't have the money to buy the back to school supplies. This year, it’s helping twice as many people as it saw this time last summer.

"We felt like this was going to be the case early this spring,” said Pat Stinman of OACAC.

Even with months of preparation, though, the back to school drive in Christian County has come down to the wire.

"We're the same as we've always been,” said Stinman.

The organization's standards are the same but the times are changing.

"We’ve had double the number of kids signed up,” said Laura Lyford, coordinator of Least of These.

Last year, the OACAC-led effort drew 129 kids in need of a little help. This year, though, they've accepted more than 280 applications.

Using a school-provided list, we did a little shopping to see how much it costs to send a child back to school. It came to $73 for one child.

"We can't provide everything, just the basics,” said Stinman.

The basics are a box of supplies from one organization and an outfit, including underwear, socks, and shoes, from another organization.

"We have little children who are grateful for receiving underwear."

The cost of those items hasn't necessarily increased. But, because families are shelling out so much for groceries and the fuel to get them to the store, they simply can't afford the pens and pencils.

"Definitely, there has been a trend for people who haven't had to seek assistance in the past to do it."

Now, they're just hoping they have enough inside the boxes full of supplies and on the racks packed with clothes to take care of everyone who needs a little help.

"When our kids are at stake, there's not anything we wouldn't do."

In the past, the organizations have relied entirely on local donations. This year, though, OACAC applied for several grants, and received more than $3,000 in grant money to help purchase the supplies.