Clear signs of hard times rang through loud and clear for the Salvation Army this year, where the demand for help by families in need was up by 12 percent this Christmas compared to last year, to the tune of 3,124 people receiving Christmas Hampers, food vouchers and toys through the Santa’s Anonymous Drive.The toys and books alone will go to a total of 857 less fortunate children in Bermuda.And while the work for this programme actually starts in July, the handouts started on Monday at the Botanical Gardens where families in need will receive their Christmas goods on Wednesday.According to Salvation Army Executive Director of Social Services, Major Wayne Loveless, there has also been an increase in the number of Helping Agencies requesting help as well but he is heartened by the fact that despite the current economic climate many more people have stepped in to help this year.As a result they have received even more donations in the form of cash, food supplies, and toys for children.But in sharp contrast to previous years, this year there is not only the unemployed seeking help, but people who are working who are having a hard time just making ends meet, which could be attributed to reduced work schedules against the rising cost of living in Bermuda.Preparations for the handouts this week start months ahead of the festive season.Last month more than 100 employees from KPMG volunteered their services for the annual Christmas Drive.Staff turned out to put up decorations at the JJ Outerbridge Hall at Botanical Gardens where the food and toys were packed. They also went to Harbour Light to paint the kitchen.Major Loveless noted the cook was extremely happy about that. They also painted upstairs in the Thrift Store and provided new tables and shelving downstairs where the Food Programme operates year round.“I’m not sure why they picked us,” he said, “many people come to us from time to time but we’re extremely grateful for KPMG’s community spirit this year.”On that note he says the Salvation Army has been extremely fortunate in that regard over the years.With no end in sight to the current economic climate Major Loveless anticipates even more demand for help by those in need in the year ahead.“If you look at our statistics from the last two years, it will tell you there has been a significant increase,” he said.This is now the third year of rising demand for the Salvation Army alone, and indications are that it is much of the same for other charitable organisations throughout Bermuda.“It’s not going to going to get any better as far as we’re concerned,” he added, “all the signs are there that needs will continue”.“The concern for us is that we continually see an increase in the need from one year to the next, so when will that end I don’t think anytime soon.”This coupled with budget cuts makes it more difficult but not impossible in that the response to the Salvation Army’s plea for assistance in the form of things like food has been good.But the increasing demand also means that they have had to stretch it further than ever before to make it go a little further. And he believes this year more than ever people are appreciative of what the Salvation Army does.When asked what was his biggest wish this year, Major Loveless said: “My wish for everyone is that they will catch on to the spirit of what this is all about.“Yes, it’s about the turkey, yes, it’s about the food and the toys but it’s so much more than that,” he said. “It’s all about the whole spirit of Christmas. The spirit of feeling good about being able to reach out and help people in need at this particular time of the year.”That spirit also spread to the Bermuda Monetary Authority this year, where employees decided to have a contest for the best hampers for specific families.“For people to take that amount of time and effort to help those less fortunate with pride is encouraging to us as a team which goes into overdrive come November 1st each year.”Major Loveless heads up the Army’s Family Services, the Emergency House Shelter, the Thrift Shop and Harbour Light, the Residential Detox Programme for men which has been in existence since 1976 services that go beyond the mere provision of food and shelter.And as we head into a New Year he believes there is also the need for a halfway house programme to help get residents back on their feet once they have battled addiction.Once residents get through the Lifeskills Programme, many are unable to secure jobs to provide for themselves or housing.He also anticipates an increased demand for women battling addiction moving forward, because many in the Emergency Housing Shelter have problems spanning from drug addiction.It is against that backdrop that the Salvation Army has already set its sights on the year ahead.In that regard Divisional Commander Major Shawn Critch said fundraising so far is going quite well and his gut feeling is that they are moving in the right direction.“We have gotten unsolicited corporate donations over the past couple of weeks, but a lot depends on our mail appeal to the general public and small businesses. That’s going on until the end of the year and we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”