The Salvation Army will not be distributing hampers of food this year after receiving complaints about the food in them.

However, they will be taking a different approach this Christmas by giving gift certificates from Lindo's and the Marketplace.

A $45 gift certificate and a chicken will be given to single people while a $45 certificate and a turkey will be given to each family plus a $10 certificate for every person in the family.

Over $90,000 worth of gift certificates will be given out.

"The certificates are designed to get people ready for Christmas," said Major Lindsay Rowe, division commissioner of the Salvation Army.

"Children will receive three toys each in an effort to make sure every child has a gift and every home has dinner for Christmas," added Major Rowe.

"The numbers are up this year. We have 400 more children than we did last year and about 2,000 people receiving certificates so far," he said.

Major Rowe told The Royal Gazette: "Everyone who needs a gift certificate must submit an application and schedule an interview in order to get one.

"If someone goes to another organisation for assistance then that organisation will check with the Army to make sure there is no duplicating. We must be careful not to allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. This will allow our resources to go further."

The certificates, toys and extra food can be picked up at the Jack King Building at the Botanical Gardens.