There has been a 5% increase in the number of people seeking help from the St Vincent De Paul Society across the North West during the Christmas period compared to the same period in 2017.
The charity says people were calling the regional office, which covers Sligo, Leitirm and Donegal, seeking assistance as early as October.
Regional President, Rosa Glacken, says people who are on a limited income are really strained by the expense of the Christmas period.
She says alot of people were coming to them for help for the first time.
Meanwhile Rosa Glacken says she also seen a rise in the number of people coming to them who are sick and are forced to travel outside of the region for hospital care.
