Organisers of a charity that supports needy families during the festive period is bracing itself for what could be its busiest year ever.

Crisis at Christmas, which has been going for more than 20 years, is launching its annual appeal for donations of money, food, presents and the time of anyone willing to volunteer.

As well as holding a free lunch on December 25 and Boxing Day at the Community Church, Broadway, Sheerness, it helps with anything from paying the bills to handing out toys to children across the Island.

Organisers Betty Boswell and Carol Wraight have recruited Marie Piper as an additional helper.

Mrs Boswell said they are particularly looking for dry goods – nonperishable foodstuffs – as they anticipate a greater demand from families suffering from the economic downturn.

She said: “We try, if we can, to enable these families to stay at home at Christmas, so we will buy their Christmas dinner and get the presents for the kids.

“We can also take them to put money on their gas and electric key, because some are tossing up between food or heat.”

She added last year they fed two people off the streets and put one of them up in the Abbey Hotel and helped him get in touch with various homeless agencies.

They gave the other, who had already found accommodation, pots and pans and money for food.

Mrs Wraight said: “The food side of it is a lot of it now but also the presents because every child deserves to wake up and have their presents on Christmas Day.”

Mrs Boswell, who was made an MBE for her Crisis efforts, said it is not just about helping those in need. Regular visitors to the annual lunch include elderly people who live alone and enjoy having some companionship.

She said: “People think you have got a kind of blueprint for the types of people who we help.

“They are elderly or sick or poor, but you could be a millionaire and still be lonely at Christmas so the doors are open to anybody.”