While many charitable organizations across Canada are struggling to fill their hampers for a growing number of needy people, Whitehorse residents have gone above and beyond the call of charity this year in their donations of food, cash and toys.

"You can see our citizens have been very generous,” a smiling Mayor Bev Buckway said this morning, standing in front of three tables laden with booty from the city's Food for Fines program.

"People shopped really carefully,” the mayor said, noting the fact there was a good mix of whole and organic foods.

The annual food drive encourages people who have been given tickets at metered parking spots to donate food or cash to the food bank in lieu of paying their fines to the city.

This year, motorists donated $4,365 in cash to the campaign, and gave food in lieu of $3,435 worth of tickets – a $2,000 increase from last year.

Coun. Dave Stockdale, who is also the fund-raising manager for the food bank, said he'd like to see the Food for Fines program extended throughout the whole year.

"This makes my job very easy,” he grinned.

The mayor and councillor were joined by Barbara McInerney of Kaushee's Place and Stephen Dunbar-Edge of the Whitehorse Food Bank, both of whom thanked Whitehorse for meeting the expanded need this year.

McInerney noted the Kaushee's Place women's shelter is at 100 per cent occupancy right now, which is unusual, as things are normally quiet at Christmas, before the crisis line starts ringing off the hook in January.

"Occupancy rates and high rents are really hitting people hard this year,” she said.

"The message certainly got out,” Dunbar-Edge said of public response to the campaign. "People would call me saying, ‘I just got a parking ticket. What do you need?'”

The food bank will be delivering hampers tomorrow and Thursday, he said. There is enough food for everyone – both families and singles "who are often left out at his time of year.”

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army's toy drive was also being hailed as a success by Capt. Shannon Howard.

"I think it is a right of every child to have at least something under the tree when they wake up on Christmas morning,” she said.

With that in mind, the Salvation Army will deliver toys to all 80 families who came in to say they needed some help with gifts this year.

"This takes the stress off the shoulders of parents who are maybe working two jobs but still can't afford the extra expense at Christmas.”

Howard thanked the many businesses and organizations that helped with the drive, including Canadian Tire, the Real Canadian Superstore and the Rotary Club.

She noted that any toys left over will be distributed throughout the year on children's birthdays.

The Salvation Army's kettle campaign continues to the end of the week.