Santas Anonymous generally fills up, helping 1,200 families get through the holiday season with food and gifts.

This year, they hit that maximum within 24 hours of the forms going out.

B次元官网网址淭welve hundred in one day B次元官网网址� that was shocking. The need is real,B次元官网网址� said Christine Hewitt, executive director of the CFAX Santas Anonymous Society. More than 2,300 children are among the registered.

B次元官网网址淲e take normally 1,200 families and weB次元官网网址檝e already started to talk about how we can help some of the other agencies as well. WeB次元官网网址檒l probably have to help some more.B次元官网网址�

A jump in early registration wasnB次元官网网址檛 unexpected, but last year there were 400 applications in the first day and 230 in the first day the year before, Hewitt said.

CFAX Santas Anonymous is 46 years old and the society spearheads a group called the Christmas Giving Network. Working together for the past 14 years, the network includes area food banks, community organizations, Santas Anonymous and the Salvation Army.

They developed a common application form that goes to all of the families in the Capital Regional District who apply for help over the winter. They go into a database so they know who has applied where, ensuring aid to as many people as possible.

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Santas Anonymous maintains an alternative agencies list for those still taking applications. All agencies provide differing support based on things such as space, volunteers and funding.

For example, Santas focuses on kids, which includes groceries to provide for meals in the weeks when school breakfast and lunch arenB次元官网网址檛 options as well as grocery gift cards.

B次元官网网址淭here are so many diverse families that a turkey dinner might not be what theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for,B次元官网网址� Hewitt said.

As long as an agency is listed at cfaxsantas.com thereB次元官网网址檚 still help available.

B次元官网网址淥nce they fill up they contact me and I take them off,B次元官网网址� Hewitt said. The information is also available at local food banks, where personal relationships play a crucial role.

Alternate agencies include food banks on the West Shore and Saanich Peninsula as well as in Sooke and Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen some of the numbers and everybodyB次元官网网址檚 filling up,B次元官网网址� said Tyson Elder, operations manager of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank which helps households north of Sayward Road. B次元官网网址淚 think demand is going to be huge this year.B次元官网网址�

Nationally, food bank visits this March were at an unprecedented level, according to Hunger Count 2023, a Food Banks Canada annual report. According to the count, in March there were more than 1.9 million visits to food banks across the nation, a 32-per-cent increase from record-setting 2022.

B.C. recorded 195,925 visits, a 20-per-cent increase over last year and a 57-per-cent increase since 2019.

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B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e feeling a bit of a strain from Santas filling up,B次元官网网址� he said.

On the Peninsula, theyB次元官网网址檙e planning for at least 400 hampers, but regular food bank client numbers from earlier in the year indicate it could be closer to 500.

B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of challenges and we just want to take some of those challenges away from other people, too,B次元官网网址� Elder said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to helping as many people as we can this year. I know itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a tough year, but itB次元官网网址檚 always a time of year we feel we help the most people. A lot of families walk away with smiles on their faces and very thankful. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why we do it.B次元官网网址�

Their clientele ranges from single people to families of 12 and the hampers partner with the Sidney Lions who handle toys for the holidays.

Last month the agency helped 24 households in the large family (8-plus) category and 27 households in the 6-8 category.

B次元官网网址淭hose numbers are definitely rising. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 just multigenerational families living in one place because thatB次元官网网址檚 what they can afford,B次元官网网址� Elder said.

The rising cost of living is showing on both sides, on the Peninsula, donations are down and client numbers have doubled.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen our donations drop considerably this year versus other years because everybodyB次元官网网址檚 feeling the pinch,B次元官网网址� Elder said.

The Goldstream Food Bank is holding out hope for donations as numbers there also surge.

The West Shore organization saw its biggest year for donations last year B次元官网网址� with a surge that came close to being too late, president Gayle Ireland said.

B次元官网网址淭he community came through, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure,B次元官网网址� she said. Last month the West Shore organization issued 507 regular food bank hampers up from about 380 for the same time the year before.

The organization planned for 700 hampers this year, building on the 634 handed out last winter.

B次元官网网址淭he need has gone through the roof, hence the Christmas need will be through the roof,B次元官网网址� Ireland said.

Visit to see the list of alternative agencies with space remaining or ways to give.