A survey indicates only North Dakota is in better economic shape than Nebraska. While it's good news we've managed to avoid the recession's worst bite, some people still need help.

Nebraska and North Dakota were found to be the least stressed states in May based on factors such as unemployment, home foreclosures and bankruptcies.

States with the highest scores include California, Michigan and South Carolina. Analysts say all three states have been hit hard by job losses which has led to more foreclosures and bankruptcies.

A look at the economic stress index mirrors what the business community has been telling us for the last few months, that Omaha is in better shape than most of the country.

Our unemployment numbers are well below the national average. Experts in the real estate sector say they are optimistic and their optimism is not fueled by hope, but by hard numbers as sales are up.

But it's not good news all across the city. At noon Monday, people were lining up for lunch at the Salvation Army facility at 24th and Pratt.

"Last month we served over 2,700 meals and that is a jump of over 800 from the same time last year and it's steadily growing every month this year,” said the Salvation Army’s Albino Moreno.

Moreno says the job market is tight right now. “A lot of people tend to have odd jobs picking up here and there and recently it's just been harder and harder to find these little jobs to support themselves."

Sanora Sturgeon of Omaha was having lunch with her daughter. It hasn't been an easy year for her family. "It's pretty hard up here, a lot of things are very high for us and hard to survive and to get food out here and I go to the Salvation Army to eat every day, just to survive on food throughout the month.”

Times are tight for the Salvation Army, too. The pantry is running low on food. "As you can see we're trying to survive on donations and donations are real slim right now,” said Moreno. “We're trying to get our shelves filled and with everybody's help we can have that done.”

You can help fill those shelves by bringing food to Omaha fire stations, which will be accepting boxed or canned food donations for the Salvation Army's pantry through July 22nd.

Some of the items currently needed include cereal, canned meat, soups and vegetables, bread, boxed dinners, cake and cookie mix, boxed or bagged rice products and boxed macaroni and cheese.

The public is invited to drop off items at any of the following fire stations: