DENISON, Tex. -- People often turn to Grayson County Shelter for assistance, but shelter staff say they need more donations to continue helping. The shelter on Morton Street in Denison is full of people ready to provide assistance to those less fortunate.

With the national economic downturn, increasing numbers of people need help getting back on their feet.

Robert Arrington has been staying at the shelter for more than a month with his wife and three children, and he says times are hard.

"If it wasn't for the people at the Grayson County Shelter, me and my wife and kids would be out on the street plain and simple. They love having us here, we love being here, but you know, you got so much time to get on your feet and it's up to the people to do that," says Arrington.

Thanks to the support and help he's gotten at the shelter, he'll soon be able to provide for his family again. He recently got a job and is ready to begin apartment hunting. Arrington plans to return the favor by volunteering at the shelter once he moves out.

Shelter executive director Paige Furst loves to see stories like that, but says they need donations to keep helping people turn their lives around.

"Our need right now is primarily due to just more need in the community. When the economy takes a hit, people come to us and unfortunately our donations take a hit as well," says Furst.

The shelter is housing about 45 people, including 16 children. Furst says donation shortages make it difficult to provide for residents. It also makes it hard to provide food and clothing vouchers to other needy people in the community. When the public shops at the neighboring crowded closet, proceeds fund the shelter. Still, Furst says more donations are needed to meet demand.

"Because of our donations, we're able to help hundreds of people in the community and when someones been a blessing to us, we pass that blessing along."

Shelter staff say they most need of staple items, like meat, cheese, bread, fruit, and especially milk which they often run low on. They are also always in need diapers and cleaning products.