Donna Carr wanted hooded sweatshirts, quilted jackets, sweatpants and long johns for her 10 grandchildren.

“The toys cost so much, and the clothes cost so much, too,” the 53-year-old homemaker said. “With the rent and the bills and the gas going up … “

So Carr went to Penn House on Thursday — the day before this winter’s second expected hard freeze — to get some free clothes.

Without freebies from the agency at 1035 Pa., getting Christmas gifts for her grandbabies would be difficult, she said. But while Carr found some of what she was looking for, all those in need won’t be so lucky.

The Lawrence branch of the Salvation Army has been besieged since the end of 2001 with demand for help in paying rent and utilities. And not enough money is coming in to keep up.

“We get our (rent and utility) funding at the first of the month, and we typically run out at the first of the month,” said Paula Gilchrist, the branch’s social service director. “It’s a terrible feeling. We are turning away people … that honestly do need our help.”

And with recent increases in the price of milk, gasoline, utilities and rent, many of the poor are having a harder time paying bills.

“It’s not like food stamps have increased in the last three years,” Gilchrist said. “Food stamps have not kept up with a gallon of milk. Wages are stagnant. Everything has gone up.”

Utilities up again

Natural gas prices are expected to be higher in Kansas and across the nation, said Larissa Long, spokeswoman for Lawrence’s Aquila office. Aquila customers in Kansas will pay about 20 percent more to heat their homes this month than they paid a year ago, she said.

Five-month-old Gunner Riley sleeps on the shoulder of his mother, Brandy Riley, as his grandmother, Francene Criswell, rummages through winter jackets for the toddler at Penn House, 1035 Pa. The family was looking for warm clothes Thursday in preparation for approaching winter weather. Social service agencies have had to turn away some people looking for help in paying their utilities and rent just as cold weather is expected.

The price is increasing because supplies have not kept up with U.S. demand, and oil prices, which affect natural gas prices, are increasing worldwide, Long said.

Westar Energy Co. officials aren’t planning on any price increases for electricity this winter. The regulated utility’s rates haven’t changed since 2001. But nationwide, propane costs from 10 percent to 20 percent more than it did last November, said Justin Holstin, executive vice president of the Propane Marketers Association of Kansas.

The Salvation Army, 946 N.H., usually receives $2,000 to $3,000 each month in federal funds and from various organizations to help poor people pay their utilities and rent.

But if temperatures are below 35 degrees for 48 hours, Kansas utilities won’t shut off heat for users behind on payments.

Customers also can donate money to an Aquila fund that helps people pay their gas bills. Aquila will pay up to $100,000 by donating 50 cents for every $1 donated.

To get help from the fund, applicants can go in January to organizations like The Salvation Army, Ballard Community Center and Penn House. For now, the agencies are just doing what they can, and seeking help.

Winter forecast unclear

At Penn House, director Linda Lassen said the agency needed donations of blankets, sleeping bags, food and money for medicine.

6News video: Winter means higher heating bills (11-11-04) Latest forecast

At lunchtime Thursday, about 15 women scoured the racks and piles of free clothing at Penn House. Carr was one of them.

As she went through the goods, she held up two pairs of sweatpants — one green, the other purple — and flipped through plaid, paisley and floral prints.

“Sometimes you can get real cute skirts for church,” she said. “I get my husband’s suits for church here, too.”

It’s still unclear how much Kansas will shiver this winter. The state has equal chances for below- or above-normal temperatures and precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.

But it was expected to get cold overnight. The Lawrence temperature was expected to drop to about 27 degrees overnight, with a high near 46 today.

Tonight’s low is expected to drop to the mid-20s. Saturday and Sunday lows are forecast from 32 to 35 degrees.

Monday through Thursday is forecast with lows in the upper 30s and lower 40s, highs in the 50s and possible rain.