Santa's helpers are already hard at work in Petrolia and central Lambton.
The annual Christmas for Everyone food and toy drive is planned this Saturday to collect donations for those in need.
"We decided to do a jump start on our Christmas hamper program because our numbers have really never gone down," said Coordinator Sandra Hartman. "We're still sitting at about the 400 family range and we're not sure if that's going to increase this year as we're seeing CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) stopping and the dynamics changing financially for a lot of people."
Non perishable food donations including things like peanut butter, soda crackers, canned fruit and meat, pasta, pancake mix, and syrup are welcome.
Cleaning supplies, monetary donations, toys and gift cards for older children are also appreciated.
"We're always short for the older children. So gift cards to Walmart, Cineplex, Mastercard or VISA gift cards, EB Games, anything like that to help with the process of getting gifts for those older kids."
Donations can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at four locations, 543 Countryview Drive and 4427 VanderWal Drive in Petrolia, the Oil Springs Youth Centre at 4517 Victoria Street and the Dawn Euphemia Municipal Building at Rutherford.