CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Thousands of needy kids whose Christmas gifts are dependent upon the kindness of others could be in jeopardy. You can blame the economy as the reason why.

Toy requests are significantly up and in some cases, organizations are struggling to meet their needs and even get donation barrels in place.

Demand for the Salvation Army's help is skyrocketing as more and more parents need help putting toys underneath the Christmas tree for their children.

The Salvation Army heads up the Magical Toy Drive and Angel Tree. Nearly 12,000 kids are on this year's list.

"That's 1,500 children more than last year," said Major Todd Hawks.

Hawks says in tough times, some traditional helpers are scaling back.

"They're being challenged as well," he said.

When it comes to those donation barrels?

"It's always a challenge to find locations," he said.

NewsChannel 36 found out some places that accepted them before aren't now.

It's the same problem for Toys for Tots. Marine Dennis Clary says some stores backed out.  He heads up the effort in Iredell County.

"That's thousands of toys that we won't get," he said.

Others stores are helping people but in different ways. It's an example of how people and businesses have to make choices in tough times.

Clary says one unnamed store was just plain rude.

"When he finally called back, he said, "What's in this for us?'" Clary said. "I think Scrooge works at that store."

To him, high demand and less supply means more phone calls. He says he got 12 in one day from people all over the area, including Mecklenburg County, asking for help.

"I said, 'Ma'am, I don't know if we can do it or not. We will just have to wait and see,'" Clary said.

Hawks says it is still early and people around Charlotte have a history of stepping up in times of need. He hopes that happens this year.