Maj. Stan Senak said he knew this was going to be a tough Christmas for a lot of families when he worked with Pennsylvania Power Co. to sign up people for the electric company’s assistance program in September and October.

“We saw a big increase there,” said the head of the Salvation Army in Sharon. “It’s a little worse than we thought.”

The increase followed when the Army started signing up people for its Christmas assistance program. As of Friday, the Army had registered 590 families, up 57 from the same day last year, Senak said.

With registration continuing to Christmas Eve, Senak said he expects to eclipse the 625 families who received clothing and toys last year.

Senak noted that he has been working with the union that represents 140 workers who are being laid off from Wheatland Tube. None of those workers has signed up for the Christmas assistance program, but could swell the Army’s numbers before too long.

The nation’s economic problems have been felt in the Shenango Valley, said Senak, who noted that CCL Container, Hermitage, laid off about 40 people due to the economy.

“Whatever it takes, we want to meet that demand,” Senak said. “But, we do count on the public support.”

The Army is asking for donations of new children’s clothing in all sizes and new toys for kids up to age 12, and also will accept money.

Registered families also get a food box, but Senak said he has enough food ordered to meet the demand for now.

The Army tries to make a big deal of Christmas for needy families, which is why it asks for new items.

“We have some families, that’s all they really know,” Senak said of the items given by the Army. “That’s why we want to make it as memorable as possible — in a good way.”

Senak said a call put out last Christmas season for public help brought an “overwhelming response.”

“As soon as the things came in, they were going out, but it was a phenomenal response,” he said.

The Army’s Sharon location is at 660 Fisher Hill, phone: 724-347-5537. The Army’s Greenville location is 288 Main St., phone: 724-588-5190.