This is the busiest weekend of the year at grocery stores and every shopper can make a huge difference in the lives of neighbors who need a hand by just buying one extra frozen turkey or ham of any size.

"It is urgent, because we have 114, and we'll need between 500 and 600 to fill our Christmas food baskets," said Shelley Tryon, Salvation Army business administrator and social services director.

Single folks and families still have time to apply for Christmas food and toy help, so Tryon and the Army staff doesn't yet have firm numbers of how many will need the holiday assistance.

But several indicators point to perhaps record numbers needing that help, and last year 540 turkeys were actually used.

This fall's economic troubles - coupled with the summer's higher gas prices - have more people locally who have arrived in central Wyoming to take advantage of the area's low unemployment rate and surplus of jobs.

Once here, however, the cost of housing makes day-to-day living tougher than many expect. And permanent residents are also struggling with rising costs of everything, including groceries.

"We need any size frozen turkey or ham," Tryon said. "We have a multitude of different sized families, from single seniors and couples on fixed incomes to one family I know of that has 11 people."

Canned food items will also be needed for the food baskets, but the emphasis now is on turkeys and hams because the need is urgent and stores have them specially priced before Thanksgiving. Businesses of any size are encouraged to help by putting together an employee food drive between now and Christmas.

The Salvation Army hosts the traditional Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday at the Salvation Army Church, 625 S. Jefferson St. Anyone who needs a ride to the dinner or needs to have a meal delivered may call Tryon at 234-2002.

Early holiday cheer will also be available before the dinner as Tryon hosts breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m., downtown at the Salvation Army Center for Hope, 441 S. Center St.

"We hosted the Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours a few weeks ago and served breakfast," Tryon said. "Then when we opened our doors to clients at 8 a.m., we had about 40 people come in who loved the breakfast, so we've been doing it every Thursday morning since then."

Reach community news editor Sally Ann Shurmur at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com

Take a turkey

Frozen turkeys or hams of any size may be taken to the Salvation Army Center for Hope, 441 S. Center St., between the hours of 8 and 11:30 a.m., and 1 and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more informcation, call 234-2002.

Frozen turkeys or hams of any size may be taken to the Salvation Army Center for Hope, 441 S. Center St., between the hours of 8 and 11:30 a.m., and 1 and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more informcation, call 234-2002.]]->