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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The economic downturn has caused an upswing in people seeking help from the Springs Rescue Mission, according to Kristin Oxendahl, development associate with the Springs Rescue Mission.

Oxendahl appeared on the FOX21 Morning News on Wednesday to talk about the rise in numbers of people who are seeking assistance.

During the past several months, she said they've noticed about a 20 percent increase in people who are walking through the front doors of their facility -- and from all walks of life.

"Typically, in the past, we've seen a lot of people living under bridges coming in," Oxendahl said. "But more and more and more, we're seeing families come in for help, single moms with children, people who are working trying to make ends meet and it's just not working."

Some of the typical types of services the agency provides include:

• serving dinner six nights a week
• offering clothing, furniture, other household items to those in need
• providing a recovery program for men who suffer from addictions

However, because of the surge of people looking for help, the Springs Rescue Mission is starting to run out of resources faster than they are coming in.

"We are fully supported by our community," Oxendahl said. "We have people who drop things off to us, we have cash donations from people as well. So it's really our community that makes what we do possible."

One way that the public can help -- as well as be "entertained" for an afternoon -- is to swing by the "Dancing with Colorado's Stars" dance competition and showcase.

It'll be held on Sunday, May 31, at the City Auditorium, 221 E. Kiowa St., in downtown Colorado Springs. More than a dozen southern Colorado radio and TV personalities (including FOX21's very own Joe Cole and Tim Elbertson!) are paired up with instructors from local dance schools for a few hours of floor-sweeping footwork.

General admission tickets are $10 ($5 for children 12 and younger) and can be purchased at the door. The show kicks off at 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit Springs Rescue Mission and Fort Carson soldiers and families.

To contact the Springs Rescue Mission, or if in ned of its services, the office is located at 5 W. Las Vegas in downtown Colorado Springs. The number is 719-632-1822, or you can visit its Web site by clicking here.