A whole chicken, a can of ready-to-eat meaty vegetable soup.

A 6-pound chicken can be stuffed and makes a nice meal for a single or elderly couple, Joyce Pound says, and they don't have to worry about "all those leftovers" from a big turkey.

Brands of soup that don't need water added, like beef barley for $1.99 a can, make a good meal for someone living on the streets.

"They can just open it and eat it, and don't have to necessarily heat it or add water and it fills them up and they have a lot of nutrition right there," says Shelley Tryon, executive secretary at the Salvation Army.

These are stressful times for Pound and Tryon and their staffs, as they have all seen a large increase in the number of hungry folks in Casper.

"In October, we fed more than 3,200 people," Tryon said. "We are just swamped."

Pound wants to give 150 Thanksgiving meal boxes between now and next Thursday. Her most immediate needs are fresh potatoes (8 pounds for $3.99), fresh onions ($1.99 a bag), chicken broth, canned yams, canned cranberry sauce, whole chickens ($1.29 a pound), and canned 1-pound hams.

Between now and Christmas, Pound also is seeking out small gifts to include in 300 Christmas food baskets.

She'd especially like folks to remember teenagers and adults.

"Teens don't get much and a small gift certificate or store gift card would mean so much," Pound said.

Ever grateful for anything, Pound would appreciate drop-offs any day between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 334 S. Wolcott St. If she's not there, call 277-8681 and "I'm 5 minutes away," she said.

The Salvation Army hosts a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who would like to attend, so doesn't give specific Thanksgiving meal boxes.

But Tryon needs at least 600 turkeys to get through the holiday period and focuses on collecting them now, when they are on sale and people are most generous.

"Our pantry is starting to fill up but we still have a long way to go," Tryon said. "We have a lot of people on the streets, and one can of soup is a meal for a single woman or single man."

Heartbreakingly, Tryon said she also regularly feeds teens who are on their own, working and trying to stay in school.

In addition to frozen turkeys (48 cents a pound -- 12-pound turkey for less than $6), and soup, she'd love any nonperishable items that can stay on the pantry shelves.

The Salvation Army welcomes drop-offs between 8 a.m. and noon; and 1 and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at 441 S. Center St.

The Salvation Army and Joshua's are on opposite ends of the same parking lot, so dropping off to both takes less than five minutes.

If you need more information, call Joshua's at 265-0242. Call the Salvation Army at 234-2002.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at tribtown.trib.com/Sal/blog and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WYOSAS