Yellowknife (Jan 03/07) - Yellowknifers gave generously to the Salvation Army's hamper drive and the Yellowknife Food Bank over the holidays.

Major Bob Mac Kenzie of the Salvation Army estimated they managed to make Christmas brighter for about 150 families through their Christmas hampers and the "Adopt-a-family" program.

"There was one school that took 22 families," said Mac Kenzie. "Schools were involved, mines were involved."

The hampers were flown out to smaller communities for free by the airlines.

Mac Kenzie said that not only do donations tend to pick up around Christmas time, but volunteers do too.

"Yellowknifers, more than any other place I've ever been, they just do more than anyone else," Mac Kenzie said.

He said the Salvation Army has food left over from the Christmas season which is currently in storage, but they need more than food. Mac Kenzie said the organizations also needs toiletries such as toothpaste and deodorant.

Dave Ritchie, president of the Yellowknife Food Bank, said the Christmas season is when they get most of their donations.

"It's been really good, people have been donating lots of food," he said. "(We) have enough food to go for another two months."

He said demand at the food bank has gone up with the Yellowknife population, but donations have been matching the demand.

He said an average of 350 people use the food bank.

"During the year we spend $35,000 to $40,000 for groceries," he said.

Ritchie estimated that half of that amount comes in during Christmas time.