LOCAL charity organisations, the Salvation Army and the Uniting Church food distribution program, have called for donations of winter woollies and pantry items as the need increases and we dip into the depths of winter.

Hamilton Uniting Church pastoral community worker and program coordinator, Peter Roberts, said it was business as usual for the dedicated group of volunteers, who prepare and distribute 90 to 100 hampers three days a week to singles, couples and families struggling to make ends meet in Hamilton, Dunkeld, Casterton, Coleraine, and surrounds - but that some supplies had proven difficult to get a hold of.