Lawrence’s poor and working poor aren’t just lining up at the food pantries or seeking rental assistance.

With recent spikes in the cost of gasoline, more people are looking for help to keep their fuel tanks full.

“I would say we get like five to 10 requests a day,” for help, said Peter Luckey, senior pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church. “I’d also say the requests don’t look to be tapering off. I’d say they are increasing.”

With prices on the rise, 10 gallons of gas can cost $21.50, a decent bite from the budget from those with limited earnings.

Most Lawrence social service agencies don’t have programs that provide money to purchase gasoline for personal vehicles.

For example, Chip Blaser, development director for the Ballard Community Center, said the agency tries to help people with utilities and food but offers no help with gasoline.

“We can’t directly help with purchasing gasoline,” Blaser said. “We usually refer people to churches in those cases.”

But the churches say there is little they can do because their coffers are limited.

Renee Low, with the Salvation Army, said officials there received about five to 10 requests a week for help buying gas. But the organization doesn’t have the money.

“We usually explain to them that most of the funds are earmarked and we don’t have any money for that area,” Low said. “Most of the money available goes to pay utilities and rent.”

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Luckey said Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vt., does what it can. But the church isn’t equipped to handle direct assistance to people who come to the door seeking help, Luckey said.

“We don’t have the staff or the time to do that,” he said.

When assistance is provided, it usually comes after the applicant works with a social worker or social service agency.

Luckey said he and the church’s other pastor use money from the church’s discretionary fund. He said he wasn’t sure how many requests had been fulfilled or how much money had been donated.

Other churches in Lawrence, including Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 N.H., also offer some help when possible.

Marcie Harness, church secretary, said the church also has a discretionary fund. The pastor is in charge of who receives money based on requests.

“The pastor usually gives a check made out to the gas station or the utility company,” she said. “We’ve been pretty steady as far as the requests go.”