Joanna Jansen is quick and efficient when packing her car, loading it up with tightly packed coolers of food to be delivered around Schenectady. 

Jansen is helping fulfill a need -- hunger in upstate New York. Jansen works with the Catholic Charities' Meals on Wheels program. On any given route, she's delivering up to 20 meals to people.  

"It's a hot meal, with whatever dietary issues they have," she said. 

But in this year of crisis, hunger is only growing. The program's director Marlene Hildenbrandt says more help is needed. 

"The need for volunteers for our program is huge right now," Hildenbrandt said. "We've seen a tremendous increase in request for services."

Since the pandemic began in March, 100 people have been added to the Meals on Wheels wait list. The pandemic has created an outsized economic crisis. That's why volunteers like Paytra Klein are stepping up. 

Klein is originally from California and is a student at Union College nearby. 

"I figured I had a car, I can drive around them and make it a bit easier," she said. 

Safer amid a resurgence of a pandemic and need that's only going to grow.