There are a lot of indications that this will be a tough Christmas season for many in Greater Nashua.

“Things are really bad this year,” said Rosemarie Dykeman, social services director for the Salvation Army of Nashua, who, along with the Nashua Pastoral Care Center, partner with the Santa Fund Santa Fund to register families and distribute gifts and food vouchers for the Telegraph Santa Fund. “Instead of asking for toys, some parents are putting warm coats, winter boots and comforters on their children’s gift lists. That’s something we usually don’t see. Usually there are toys on that list. It’s an indication that many of these families have very few resources.”

This year approximately 1,150 families with 3,500 children have registered for help from the Santa Fund.

“I’ve seen some people who might put down a coloring book and crayons for their children along with a warm coat,” said Salvation Army Captain Norma Moore.

Blake Jacoby of Merrimack gets it. On a recent weekday, he brought in his second delivery of new toys to donated to the Santa Fund.

When Moore saw the piles of toys Jacoby was setting on a table in the Salvation Army annex, it was as if she were the one getting the Christmas gifts. “Look, a “Dora the Explorer” Dress-Up Armoire! Oh, the kids love the Dora toys. And look at the price tag on this “Cars” toy. It’s $40. People don’t realize how expensive toys are these days. It’s really hard to get even some of these basic toys for less than $50 each.”

Moore added that she likes when whole families, including children, get involved in donating. “One girl had a birthday party last year, and gave all her gifts to the Santa Fund.”

Jacoby understands. “I have two kids with a lot of toys at home,” he said “The girls are 7 and 11 and these are brand-new toys they’ve never opened or played with. So I told them I was going to gather as much as I can and bring it to the Santa Fund. It’s funny – when I started pulling some of this stuff out, they wanted to play with it, but when I explained that they had so many toys, that they didn’t even know they had and that there were kids with nothing, they were happy to donate them.”

The anemic economy has created a perfect storm when it comes to the holidays, according to those who distribute clothing, food and gifts to needy local needy families. Because big companies are laying off or cutting back on their work force, it creates more people who need help, but it also depletes the source of contributors, causing higher demand for help, with fewer people able to help.

“Our adopters are way down,” said Maryse Wirbal, CEO of Nashua Pastoral Care Center, referring to a program where donors “adopt” a needy family and buy them gifts.

She said several companies who traditionally take on multiple families have closed.

“We are way behind from last year,” she said. “We’re worried. We also have fewer volunteers to help us take Santa Fund money and shop for families. People are going through hard times of their own.”

Both Wirbal and Dykeman said in addition to new toys, donations of new warm winter coats and boots for children and teens are sorely needed.

“So many people are generous in donated toys to younger children, but it’s the tweens and teens who usually end up with a lot less,” said Dykeman. For them, gift cards to places like Old Navy, Wal-Mart, Target allow them to buy clothes, and gift cards to movie theaters and fast-food restaurants allow them to join their friends on outings, when their families can’t afford it. Also gift cards to places like Game Stop and Newbury comics benefit tweens and teens who like music and games.

The Santa Fund began 50 years ago by the publisher of The Telegraph to give local, needy children a happy holiday. Each year since, the Santa Fund has gathered donations from area residents who share with those less fortunate.

To donate cash or gift cards you can mail them to the Telegraph Santa Fund, 17 Executive Drive, Hudson, NH, 03051 or you can donate cash online by going to www.nashuatelegraph.com/santafund. The Web site also includes drop off locations for new toys and clothes.