Chattanooga Area Charities See Big Need, Big Donations So Far This Christmas Season

It's the season for giving.

But will the tight economy impact the spirit of generosity this year?

That's the question groups that depend on your charity are asking.

So far it looks like, as usual, locally people are stepping up in their holiday giving.There's no question of the need this Christmas Season.

Just ask the Salvation Army or the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.

Kimberly George, Salvation Army, "In our social services day to day operation need is up sometimes twice the amount. With our Angel tree program we have a little less that 100 more angels this year than last year and last year it was a tremendous increase over the year before."

Gary Paul, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, "We've seen around 25 to 28 % increase in demand in our emergency food boxes since 2007."

The question is how's the giving?

Paul, "That's the real surprise."

Despite a record request for emergency food boxes, 147 in just one day Tuesday..so far thanks to the communities generosity the Food Bank has been able to keep up with the need.

Paul, "We may be in good shape today and be totally out of goods next week."George, "There' s worry."

It's a similar story at the Salvation Army.

While nationally donations are down, George says around here that's not the case.

George, "In Chattanooga cash donations are not lower right now at this point but we definitely need to see a bigger increase."

Judging by the people we spoke with it looks like one way or another the need will be met.

Valerie Epstein, "We're giving a little less to the charities we normally give to but we're giving more to individuals that we know personally who are in need."

A report just released by the US Department of Agriculture found hunger jumped to an alarming high in America...the highest single year increase since 1995.

In fact, more than one in seven households don't have enough food.