The Auckland City Mission is asking for help after a huge rise in demand for food parcels.

City missioner Chris Farrelly told The AM Show demand could cause problems during Christmas, the time the Mission is busiest.

"We've seen a month-on-month increase, 40 percent increase in demand for food parcels, emergency food parcels, over the last year, [it] has really hit us.

"Now we've got Christmas coming and normally this time of the year we're preparing, we've got reserves, actually the warehouse is pretty empty at the moment."

The Mission gave out 15,879 food parcels in the financial year ending June 2018. It gave out 23,020 for the most recent one.

It's now launching an emergency food drive and asking the public to bring in what they can, with non-perishable food items, including canned meat and fish, at the top of the list.

Farrelly said there are a few ways people can donate.

"You can go on to our website, drop off stuff at the Mission on Union St or at our depot over in Auburn St Grafton or call us and we'll pick it up."

He's very thankful to all of those who have already donated.

"We could not do what we do without the public saying 'here's a can of this and a can of that'."

Newshub.