SAN ANTONIO -- Luquan Barnes wouldn't trade his Army experience for anything.

"I think it was one of the best things that ever happened to me," said Barnes.

But service in Korea left him with hearing loss, seizures and blackouts. When he got out in September, Operation Homefront of Texas put him up in an apartment and provides him food during his recovery and transition from military to civilian life.

"Without this opportunity, me and my wife would probably be living in our car," said Barnes.

But help like that is becoming more difficult for Operation Homefront to provide. Donations are down and deployments are up. The organization's shelves are empty, refrigerators and freezers are bare.

Jennifer Cernoch, president of Operation Homefront of Texas, said that the organization is in need of a helping hand.

"We want to make sure when our troops are deployed and they're over there fighting for our freedom, they know their family is being taken care of here in Texas," Cernoch said.

On Saturday, Operation Homefront will team up with Benchmark Bank to hold a food drive.

Canned foods, baby supplies, hygiene products and gift cards can be dropped off at the Benchmark Bank at 211 North Loop 1604 East between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

So far this year, Operation Homefront of Texas has given away more than $17,000 in food and gift cards to military families. Also this year, the need for that kind of help has more than doubled from previous years.

"The economic strain -- that and the hardships that are hitting a lot of families -- are also hitting our military families," Cernoch said.

Donations of nonperishable food and gift cards are a way to show appreciation to the troops and make a difference for deployed troops, their families and wounded warriors like Barnes.

"It's a big sense of relief," he said.

For more information on the food drive, call 210-491-2507 or 210-491-2525.