Families struggling to make ends meet in Dunedin this Christmas were given a hand up by the Salvation Army yesterday.
Amanda approached Salvation Army Dunedin after her husband lost his job earlier this month.
The Dunedin family struggled to pay for necessities, let alone luxuries, like a Christmas gift for their 11-month-old daughter.
The family were struggling financially, being "slammed'' with an $800 power bill and a mortgage payment.
They were not entitled to an emergency benefit from Work and Income and, as a final option, asked the Salvation Army for help.
Yesterday, they were given food parcels and tokens to buy presents for their daughter: a pink unicorn and a blanket.
"These guys have been really amazing. They've really helped us,'' Amanda said.
Salvation Army Dunedin community ministries team leader Ruth Harrison said individuals, couples and families were asked if they would like assistance at Christmas.
About 170 of those asked this year had accepted the offer and were collecting tokens for food hampers and toys yesterday and today.
They booked a time to visit the Dunedin Corps in Princes St and had their names checked off a list on entering.
Most of the volunteers helping were teenagers and understood the "courage'' it took for the people to ask for assistance.
"They are not just poor, helpless people; they are courageous people who are coming to get help, '' Ms Harrison said.
An individual or couple received 25 tokens, a family with one to three children received 40 tokens and a family with four or more children received 50 tokens.
They then entered a room full of children's gifts, mostly from the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.
The gifts were unwrapped, allowing people the "dignity'' to choose a gift for their child.
In the room was a checkout, where people paid for the gifts with tokens.
A book cost a token and a small BMX cost 20 tokens.
Books seemed to be among the more popular gifts yesterday.
On the way out, they picked up a Christmas hamper containing a frozen chicken, fresh potatoes, carrots, strawberries and kiwifruit and cream, dehydrated peas, pavlova, chips, lollies, jelly crystals and soft drink.
