The Salvation Army is calling Milwaukee agencies to work together to handle the wave of the "new poor."

"We need help. We need each other. Let's just work together," said Major Jesse Collins, the commander of the Salvation Army in Milwaukee County.

The Salvation Army is looking for a way to let families that have never been poor before know about the resources available to them. A Web site might work, he said.

Typically, the "new poor" is made up of people who have never had to ask others outside their family for help but suddenly find themselves unable to pay a major bill, Collins said.

All agencies are stretched thin and need to work together, he said.

Other agencies have noticed an increase in need recently.

Hunger Task Force, a private non-profit organization committed to fighting hunger, has noticed an increase in food pantry participation, said Charles Vestal, the director of development for HTF. Every month since August 2008 there has been a 25 percent increase in those visiting HTF pantries for emergency food when compared to the previous year, Vestal said.

He said they know it's people who haven't been there before. Thirty percent of pantry visitors are employed, he said.

Campus Kitchen at Marquette has also noticed this increase in need, although indirectly, said Jen Filz, the coordinator of Campus Kitchen.

Over the last couple months, more organizations have been trying to be more involved with Campus Kitchen, she said. The numbers of organizations that Campus Kitchen provides food for, however, have not changed, Filz said.

A method for matching those in need with resources is already in place.

211 is a central access point to receive information about family, health and social services, according to the 211 Web site. 211 operates throughout the country and matches people with providers in their local communities, said Bob Waite, the director of telephonic services.

Last year, 211 received over 130,000 phone calls, Waite said. It expects 140,000 calls in 2009, he said.

It saw a huge increase in the number of people seeking assistance halfway through last year.

In the last few weeks, more people have been calling who haven't called before, he said.

Foreclosures on mortgages, layoffs and a fear of the future might be the reason for this.

"All of a sudden things have changed very quickly and they don't know what to do," Waite said.

Vestal said that the chronically poor know about 211 but the "new poor" don't know what to do.

Collins said although you tell people about what different agencies do, it doesn't register until people need to get help from there, or they volunteer at the agencies.

211 will be a key source in the Salvation Army's plan, said Collins. The main point of its plan is to get the message out there of where people can receive assistance, he said.

"This isn't about the Salvation Army. This is about reaching people in need."

Waite said a Web site would be great but he's concerned it won't stay up to date. "I urge caution when people want to put resources online."