People in need have had help to pay their electricity and telephone, rent payments, school fees and council rates.

They have received fuel vouchers, grocery and meat parcels, new shoes and clothing, as well as the annual delivery of Christmas hampers. Firewood is also supplied and delivered at no cost to anyone in need.

There’s even a Christmas luncheon for those who would otherwise spend the day on their own.

Thrift shop manager Norma McMillan, her husband Peter, son Sean and a small band of dedicated volunteers work on an entirely voluntary basis, putting in hundreds of unpaid hours a year to help others.

“We do it because we love to help people,” Mrs McMillan said.

“Peter says it is his way of serving God and the community.”

All the money raised in Saddleworth goes back into helping people in need from the eight surrounding towns.

The Thrift Shop has had more welfare enquiries than ever before in recent months, but has also been fortunate to receive government grants for welfare recipients, which is administered through the Salvation Army Head Office in Adelaide for regional distribution at the McMillan’s recommendation.

“One day, last week, we had seven people in one day looking for help,” Mrs McMillan said.

“Things happen to people through no fault of their own, and the Salvation Army is there if they need support.”

The Christmas lunch will be held on December 25 from 12-2pm at the Saddleworth RSL hall and donations of Christmas fare are currently being sought.

The first Christmas lunch saw 70 people from throughout the district and as far away as Stansbury and Waikerie attend.

And although the Christmas function is a special annual event, Mrs McMillan said people in need were welcome in the shop for help and support, not matter what day it was.

A knitting project, which has ignited widespread interest, has seen many hands create more than 15,500 garments for distribution to the needy by the Salvation Army.