The distribution of the Salvation Army's Christmas hampers began earlier this week.

The hampers are filled with non-perishable and frozen food items, potatoes, onions, a gift card for meat for a Christmas dinner, and parents are able to pick out toys for their kids. Major Brenda Coles of the Salvation Army notes 586 households registered for hampers this year.

She says it's difficult for those with a lower income to live up to what society deems is a good life.

"We're a consumer society, we see all the stuff that's out there that we can have, but if you don't have money you can't have it. Or you make bad choices about how to spend that money."

Coles adds January to March can be particularly tough and so they usually use a portion of the money raised during the Christmas season to buy food to prevent the food bank from becoming completely depleted. However, she notes this year the community has been really supportive.

"This year the community has been fantastic as far as food donations and we've not only been able to fill hampers but we've been able to pretty much fill our shelves at the food bank which is great going into the new year because it's just a hard time. It's a hard time to encourage people to give food."

Coles says it helps out a lot to be able to cover food donations for the coming months now while people are in the spirit of giving.