The Salvation Army is adding Tuesday evening hours at its Marquette food pantry starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, after visits across Alger, Baraga and Marquette counties climbed more than 20% this year.

The new 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. window at 1009 W. Baraga Ave. targets working families who cannot make it during the day, Head Administrator Bill Brutto told WLUC TV6. The evening slot applies only to the Marquette location, the organization confirmed on its Facebook page.

Both the Marquette and Ishpeming pantries remain open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

"There's a lot of unknown for a lot of these families, and for us to be able to provide a meal for their dinner table, to give them a little bit of relief for part of their lunch as well; that's why we're here to serve," Brutto said.

The organization is also launching monthly mobile food distributions in two counties starting in September, partnering with Feeding America West Michigan. In Alger County, a mobile pantry will visit the Munising Wesleyan Church on the first Wednesday of each month. In Baraga County, the L'Anse NORTHIRON Church will host a distribution on the second Wednesday of each month.

Brutto said the Salvation Army is working with Gwinn Area Community Schools on a mobile distribution twice a month. Specific dates have not been announced.

Transportation is a barrier for U.P. residents seeking food assistance. Cari Detmers of the Salvation Army's Upper Peninsula Region said in an Aug. 12 interview with MyUPNow that the organization had already been running mobile pantries in Gwinn and Powell Township because many residents lack reliable transportation.

Brutto said late August and September mark the start of the pantry's busiest stretch and encouraged residents to consider donating.