Judy Muchak has seen a lot of ups and downs for the economy during her tenure at the North Hills Community Outreach in Allison Park. But regardless of how good things are going or how bad things get, there are always people to help.

She's the sharing project coordinator and helps families that qualify for help in many different ways. Currently her team is working on the Back To School Project. It entails collecting new backpacks and supplies to help the children they serve start school with everything they need.

"Having new backpacks and the dignity of choice is important to the children for their success when they return to school," she said.

Last year the organization helped 589 children from 52 northern communities. But it's not always easy to get what's needed.

"Some donations that we were counting on being large have come in a lot smaller, but then we've had new donations that we weren't even aware of that have come in," she said.

It's always a balancing act, she said, and there is always the same question. "Will we have enough, will we be able to serve all the people?" But the organization has never had to turn anyone one away from its food pantry, and somehow always has been able to provide essential services.

And as times have toughened, she has seen more middle and upper middle class families ask for help. But what's different is that they have more than one or two problems to deal with.

"I see more multiple issues with people. Now it is three, four, five issues with one of them being 'My house is in foreclosure.' That's one of the toughest things we hear."

Wendy Gordon, director of communications at the agency, said there is a range of things that can happen to bring people to the agency. It could be a divorce, lost job or health crisis.

"So many of them are struggling day-to-day and that one thing just kind of sends them over the edge," Ms. Gordon said.

Mrs. Muchak urges people to get help before things get worse. "I just reassure them that it is a difficult step. So many people are embarrassed to do it, but they are helping their families by doing that."

She's watched people reduced to tears when they explain what brought them to Community Outreach. After hearing the story of one woman's health problems, and her struggle to seek help, Mrs. Muchak asked, "Are you telling me that this is actually more difficult than going through the cancer treatment? And she said 'yes.' "

In another room, Rosemary Prager was sorting through colorful school supplies with four teenage volunteers working on the Back to School Project.

Mrs. Prager has volunteered at the center since she retired from Fox Chapel Area Schools where she was a school counselor. Her experience in education, she said, taught her how critical it is for kids to begin class with the same supplies as their peers.

Families that are accepted into Community Outreach's programs bring their children to pick out a backpack filled with everything they need to start school on the right foot. Mrs. Prager always goes the extra mile to be sure these kids are happy. "If they have a favorite character, favorite color, we'll even go into our reserve and try to match them up with something that's really special to them."

"It might seem like a small thing, but seeing that child walk out with that special backpack and just feeling so pleased about it, is enough for us," Mrs. Prager said.

The Cranberry Area Chamber of Commerce also has a school supplies drive going. Its program is for Seneca Valley Schools and has been doing well, said Shari Corathers, who is on the outreach committee for the drive.

"A lot of people think in this school district that we don't have a lot of need, but we do. Approximately 10 percent of children attending our elementary schools live with families that can't provide the basic school supplies needed for each semester," she said.

Donations come from local organizations such as the Rotary Club, and Costco donated 400 backpacks. Individual donors can use 10 to 15 drop boxes that are placed throughout the area.

There is also Operation Backpack, a program from Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania All of Us Care. It is in its first year and is off to a slow start.

Pat Serey is chief development and marketing officer for the organization, with an office in Sharpsburg. He believes the program will grow. "If we can help create a level playing field for disadvantaged children as they enter the school year, there are multiple positive results from that," he said. "It boosts their self esteem, but from a more practical standpoint it gives them the tools that they need to continue their educations successfully."

To contact North Hills Community Outreach, go to www.nhco.org or call 412-487-6316.

Cranberry Area Chamber of Commerce's school supplies drive, call Rozann Lamberto at 724-776-1581 ext. 504.

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania All of Us Care, go to www.voapa.org or call 412-782-5344.