This Christmas the number of people needing help at Christmas time has risen by 40 per cent over last year, says Salvation Army Cpt. Ben Lippers.
A total of 410 people have applied for food support this Christmas and gifts are needed for 159 children and teens.
The Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree set up in Canadian Tire and sponsored by Canadian Tire, the Williams Lake Tribune/Weekend Advisor, and the Salvation Army is a way people can choose a gift for a boy or girl of a specific age.
Each card on the Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree represents a child in need and their age.
For convenience people can pick a card, buy a gift and drop it off with the card in the Salvation Army’s donation box next to the service desk.
Families and individuals in need will be given gift cards to purchase food at local grocery stores for their Christmas dinners this year, Lippers says.
The food cards are based on $25 per family member, plus an additional $25 to purchase a turkey.
He says supplying the food gift cards instead of food hampers gives families and individuals a greater sense of dignity.
However, Lippers said if there are people in the community wanting to still donate turkeys to the SA they can be assured the turkeys won’t go to waste.
The Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree will be set up at Canadian until Dec. 23.