Community groups and organisations have reached out once again to help "those in need'' over the Christmas season but they want to see the Christmas spirit in place all year round.

A Child and Family Services spokeswoman stressed the department was "highly appreciative'' of the donations received at Christmas but wished to remind the public those in need at Christmas were also in need the rest of the year.

One gift they were asking the public to give this year, she said, was food vouchers which families could use all year round at the grocery store.

Hamilton Lions president Mrs. Marian Sherratt said the programme Share the Christmas Spirit, run in conjunction with the Marketplace stores, was a united effort from all the Lions groups on the Island.

Even prison inmates and their children were touched by the kindness of the community through the efforts of the Prison Fellowship whose Angel Tree programme ensures prisoners' children receive a gift for Christmas.

Board member Mr. Jack Harris said the Fellowship also visited inmates over Christmas.

A spokesman for the Seventh Day Adventist Church said churches around the Island were giving out Christmas baskets of food.

And the Salvation Army prepared 800 Christmas hampers for families in need and up to 800 children would receive toys through its Santa's Anonymous project.