Although the cost of living can be a strain on the household budget all year, Robyn Kelly says it's even more difficult at Christmas time.
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Ms Kelly is currently unemployed and receives the Newstart Allowance, which she said leaves little money for the festive period.
"You don't get much money with that," Ms Kelly said.
"Especially when, like me, you've got my rent, rego, everything just all happens right on Christmas."
Warrawong resident Ms Kelly, 54, has been a client of The Salvation Army for the past few years.
She said the Salvos had been of great help to her after having a stroke a few years ago.
Ms Kelly visited the Salvos' Wollongong office on Thursday to collect food hampers for Christmas.
"This has all helped me out - they help me out with food and everything like that," she told the Mercury. "I'm collecting hampers for Christmas, because I can't really afford it any other way."
Ms Kelly said she would be spending Christmas Day with her parents in Kiama.
On Thursday, clients began visiting the Salvos' Wollongong office, where festive food hampers, collated from donations, were being distributed to clients.
The Salvos have also set up a toy shop there, which will be open on Friday and Saturday.
This enables clients, at their allotted timeslot, to visit the shop and select a designated number of age appropriate, donated toys to give to their children at Christmas.
A team of Salvos volunteers and corporate volunteers have been on hand to help unpack gifts, put the food hampers together and set up the toy shop.
Karen Walker, community fundraising and public relations co-ordinator for the Illawarra Regional Office of The Salvation Army said between the hamper distribution and toy shop, they would be assisting more than 500 families from Helensburgh to Kiama this Christmas.
Mrs Walker said there had been even greater demand on their services this festive season.
"We saw people coming into our centre earlier than normal to put their names down," she said.
Mrs Walker said the cost of living is "really stretching people", an issue exacerbated at Christmas.
"When parents aren't able to provide what they like for their children, that escalates to other areas, (to) things like depression," she said.
"It's (the toy shop) a great opportunity for people to be able to come in with dignity and pick what they would need for their children.
"People are very grateful for the support."
Mrs Walker said the Salvos would be hosting a church service at their Burelli Street location on Christmas Day from 9am.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
