The Sarnia Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign is in the final stretch, with the goal still over $45,000 away.
Captain Brad Webster said the annual fundraiser is at $119,254 of the $165,000 goal.
The campaign wraps up on Christmas Eve.
"It's going to be close," said Webster. "We're a little bit behind where we were last year, and last year we finished at $166,000. So I'm a little worried but I'm not overly worried. We have hope that the community will come through and we'll hit that goal."
Webster says funds raised will support programs and services provided by the local Salvation Army, including rent and utility assistance and the food bank.
"We are seeing a bit of a slowdown in donations," he said. "However, the donations we are seeing are quite substantial so it's kind of leveling itself out. The one thing we do see though is that in our food bank this year alone, we've seen a 58 per cent increase in usage, so the goal is definitely needed."
Some of the Red Kettle locations in Sarnia include Canadian Tire, Lambton Mall, LCBO, Metro Northgate, Wal-Mart and the Real Canadian Superstore.