It’s the most wonderful time of the year... provided you have a roof over your head, food on the table and money in the bank for all the gift-giving and festivities that come with the Christmas season.

For many who may not have the everyday basics, or just can’t afford the extras, Christmas can be a difficult time of year.

And that’s where a number of local organizations and the generosity of many Yukoners who have a little extra to share come in.

The Kin Club has been busy putting together 206 Christmas hampers for families who may have a harder time affording a Christmas feast, including presents for each child.

Meanwhile, Whitehorse Food Bank staff and volunteers are adding a few extras to their regular hampers along with providing turkeys to clients.

As well, the Salvation Army has a number of Good Samaritans stationed around the city ringing bells for the annual kettle fundraising campaign.

Other volunteers with the group are getting set for the Army’s annual Christmas dinner, where they expect to serve about 200 people.

With the big occasion just three days away, organizations are hoping they will soon reach their fundraising goals and be able to deliver a Merry Christmas.

The Kin Club’s Io Demers said the group aims to provide 200 Christmas hampers for local families.

However, they are also known as the “marshmallow club,” as they have trouble saying no to additional emergency referrals that come in.

A gift valued at $50 or more is provided for each child in the families (a total of 404 kids will get a gift this year through the program).

The Northwestel Toy Drive helped ensure there were toys for all 404 children.

Hampers also include all the groceries needed for a turkey dinner, plus a lot of extras – oranges, pickles, chocolates, a case of Pepsi and so on.

“It’s a nice hamper,” Demers said, noting the Kin Club works hard to ensure the program’s success.

While a number of corporate sponsors, schools and other groups have held fundraisers or donated goods for the hampers, the organization is still short of the money it needs for this year’s campaign.

With each hamper costing about $100 each, the program costs more than $20,600 to run, with the organization about halfway to its goal.

“It’s a slow year,” Demers said, though she noted many donations come in a day or two before Christmas.

The economic downturn that has come from mine closures as a result of lower worldwide mineral prices doesn’t seem to be having an impact on donations from individuals.

However, Demers said the organization has lost a corporate sponsor that had been contributing $5,000 annually simply because it can no longer afford to provide the sponsorship due to the economy.

This also marks the first year the group used gofundme to raise money for the hampers.

As of Monday, it had raised $4,510 toward its $5,000 goal on gofundme.

Demers said she’s pleased to have the additional way for people to donate to the cause.

“It’s really easy to donate online,” she said.

While the hampers were delivered to families last weekend, donations continue to be accepted, with the Kin Club having a Share The Spirit account residents can donate to anytime through the year.

Meanwhile, at the food bank, Christmas represents the time of year when staff and volunteers work hard to ensure there are a few extras like cranberry sauce and stuffing in the regular hampers where they can provide turkeys to families.

It’s also a major fund/food-raising time for the organization, with a number of mini-food drives happening around the city, along with a variety of groups fundraising for the bank.

As executive director Kyla Merkel said, the donations that come in at Christmas help keep the food bank going during the slower months that follow.

“It’s definitely a few months at least,” she said of how long the donations from Christmas will last.

The organization has also benefited from some corporate donations this year as well, Merkel said.

The festive season’s fundraising effort that has likely become the most familiar is the Salvation Army’s annual kettle campaign. The venture provides the major source of fundraising for the emergency shelter services the local church provides.

This year, the local Sally Ann has set a goal of $75,000.

As of Dec. 10, $54,510 had come in.

“We’re on track as far as donations coming in,” said Ian McKenzie, the executive director of the Whitehorse Salvation Army branch.

One of the biggest challenges though is finding the volunteers needed to staff the various kettles and be there to thank those who drop some change in or just say hello.

“It’s sort of that connection with the people,” McKenzie said.

Anyone wanting to volunteer for a couple of hours can call 668-2327 to sign up.

Along with the kettle campaign, the Salvation Army also has its annual cheque campaign, where regular donors are invited to mail in a cheque.

The organization has a goal of raising $82,000 that way, with approximately $30,000 coming in thus far.

“That’s a little slow,” McKenzie said.

However, it can be hard to get a reading on the cheque campaign, as many of those donations trickle in through the mail after Christmas, he pointed out.

“It might stretch beyond Christmas Day,” he said.

As the fundraising continues this week, Salvation Army volunteers and staff are also getting ready to celebrate the big day with their clients.

As the organization has done for several years, it will host its annual Christmas dinner, expecting to serve anywhere from 250 to 300 people a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Anyone wanting to help out with that effort can call the Salvation Army as well.

McKenzie said there’s a variety of shifts through the day, as well as jobs ranging from prepping the veggies to serving, dish duty, table clean-up and so on.