The Salvation Army says calls for help from Island residents struggling to make ends meet have doubled in the past year.
The charity says demand for assistance to pay for the basics in life -including food, heating and furniture - is higher than ever.
Salvation Army volunteers are about to launch their annual toy appeal - to ensure children in the neediest families have something to open on Christmas Day.
Marian Kenny reports:
Salvation Army captains Simon and Carolyn Clampton say in 2013 pressure to help those for whom life is a continual struggle, has grown rapidly.
Names of needy families are passed by health and social care agencies to the charity, which has helped those on very low incomes pay their heating bills, buy essential household goods and school uniforms for their children.
That ongoing project is about to expand further with the launch of the charity's Christmas toy appeal, a joint venture with Isle of Man Bank.
Members of the public are asked to buy one extra gift and take it unwrapped to any branch of the bank.
Last year 500 toys were distributed at Christmas together with almost 2000 food parcels and vouchers, the latter donated by Shoprite. An extra 300 gifts will be required this year as the economic squeeze continues.
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