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IRON MOUNTAIN -- "They need gifts, but they need to fill out an application," said Amber Schiltz, coordinator for the Salvation Army Giving Tree Program.  It was one of many phone calls she fielded Thursday morning as she busily made arrangements for less fortunate families to pick up donated gifts.  The need this year has been much greater than in the past, due to the economic slump and unemployment rates.

Last year, the Salvation Army helped out about 200 Dickinson County families.  This year, they're up to 253 families that they're assisting with food and gifts for Christmas; that's about a 25 percent increase over last year.

If the need has been great, however, so has the generosity.

"It's all our community," Schiltz said.  "It's people helping neighbors, the people they may live next door to."

The Giving Tree allows the community to either donate gifts to individuals or entire families, and despite the increased number of needy families this year, Salvation Army volunteers are taking it all in stride.

"It's a big job, no matter how many families, if there's 10 or 200," Schiltz said.  "We do it because we love it."

Thanks to a community coming together, a couple hundred people will be able to have a Merry Christmas this year.