The Salvation Army has seen an increase in need for the many outreach services it provides.

The Divisional Secretary for Public Relations with the Salvation Army in Newfoundland and Labrador, Jamie Locke, says frontline staff tell him that requests for assistance have increased right across the province—something he calls “uncharted territory.”

He says while Newfoundlanders and Labradorians traditionally rise to meet the need, this year they’ve seen requests for help like they’ve never seen before.

Locke says they do their best to offer a dignified and compassionate approach, and the last thing they want is for someone to visit a food bank with not enough on the shelves. He says the Salvation Army anticipated an increase in need in light of the rising cost of living and the housing crunch.

He says they’re serving in excess of 1,000 meals a week through the Ches Penney Centre of Hope and the Wiseman Centre in St. John’s and “other Salvation Army locations across the province are doing the same.”

He’s encouraging those who have the means to do so to donate to their Christmas Kettle campaign or other fundraising efforts.