BRISTOL — Tough times are getting tougher, but an effort to establish a new food pantry in Bristol will help care for those who need it most, those behind the effort say.

The pantry, which would be located in the basement of the Franklin Court assisted living complex on Franklin Street, is a collaboration among the First Congregational Church in Bristol, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and the East Bay Community Development Corporation (EBCDC), which runs Franklin Court. Since the pantry would be housed in Franklin Court, a federally-funded HUD facility, the plan awaits approval from HUD’s state office in Providence. As soon as approvals come in, church pastor Rev. Daniel Randall said he hopes to have the pantry up and running.

“There is a real need for more food pantry support, especially in the East Bay area,” he said Tuesday. “Barrington has Tap-in, and there’s the Bristol Good Neighbors, which does a great job, but there’s still a strong need.”

Unlike some other pantries, the new effort would be a partnership between the church and the food bank. Because of that, pantry officials will be able to buy food from the bank at 10 cents a pound to augment donations from charitable organizations, parishioners and regular townsfolk.

When EBCDC executive director Kathleen Bazinet was approached about the pantry last month, she gladly offered Franklin Court’s under-used basement as its home.

“We don’t really use it,” she said. “It’s perfect; it’s got double doors and there’s some space. We’re looking forward to it because we keep seeing people, every day, who are in trouble. It’s getting bad and this will be something that can help.”

There would be no food preparation at the pantry; instead, it would be a storehouse for non-perishable goods which would be bagged up and distributed by volunteers.

Already, the plan has received support from several prominent politicians. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have both written letters to HUD in support of the project.

“Opening a new food pantry can help ensure that more resources are readily available for those struggling to make ends meet,” wrote Sen. Whitehouse in his letter to HUD.

“With the winter months approaching, it is imperative to provide nutritious food and assistance to individuals and families in need,” added Sen. Reed.

Pastor Randall hopes to one day add a modest thrift shop to the space, and also wants to establish partnerships with local growers to provide fresh local produce to the needy. He’s excited about the plan, and he knows his parishioners are too.

On Sunday, more than 30 of them helped move shelving, formerly used by the Rogers Free Library, from temporary storage on Naomi Street to Pastor Randall’s garage. When approvals come in, the shelving will be brought down to Franklin Court and filled with food.

“Everyone got involved” Sunday, he said. “There was a lot of enthusiasm.”