While the state of the country’s economy is forcing local residents to change holiday plans, it has also caused volunteers to step up their efforts during the upcoming season.

When it comes to purchasing gifts, Joan Therrien of Salem has been forced to be more selective due to financial constraints.

“We’ve had to cut back on giving to kids of other families so we can give our kids what we can,” said Therrien, who may turn to a more creative method of gift-giving this year. “Handmade crafts are definitely an option this year.”

May Hedges, also of Salem, said the uncertainty of the economy is the biggest worry when it comes to planning a budget for the holidays.

“You have to be tight with money because you don’t know what will happen with the rest of it,” said Hedges. “Taxes are coming and heating bills too. You have to hang on with money that you need to live with. Spending for the holiday and trivial things like that you don’t even think of, it’s the important things you need to focus on.”

Though the shopping she does may be less, Hedges said there is one thing that doesn’t change.

“That’s about the only thing we have left is to get together. Family is everything right now,” Hedges said. “We all help one another. Getting together is the good times that we could do before things were bad, and spending that time doesn’t cost anything.”

Bedford resident Cheryl Mousseau said that with two children in North Carolina it is getting the entire family together that is most being affected by the state of the country.

“Children are now outside of our family unit, so it makes it difficult,” she said. “It’s so expensive for my son to come and justify coming for a few days, so it’ll be difficult this year.”

More local residents are being forced to ask for help, and pastor Ron Clow of Hooksett’s Emmanuel Baptist Church said he expects the number of people attending his church’s free Thanksgiving dinner to be up. With about a week left until Thanksgiving, Clow said the church had 125 people signed up for the dinner, and he expected even more through last-minute sign-ups.

“It looks like it’s increasing. It seems like people are hurting,” said Clow. “We used to give away Thanksgiving baskets and we weren’t really getting them to the people who needed them.”

In Bedford, the Knights of Columbus organized a turkey drive to benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank with the help of St. Elizabeth Seton Church, raising $7,600 to purchase 615 turkeys.

“Unemployment is up, people are out of work. It certainly is a need,” said Grand Knight Rene Pincince. “I had many members say it was the greatest thing we’ve ever done. When you sit at Thanksgiving, you can think that you’ve done something for someone who has nothing.”

Clow also said members of his church get a special feeling being able to give to the less fortunate.

“It’s one of our greatest gifts,” said Clow. “It warms our hearts. You see the people returning every year, and sometimes people will come in and serve when things get better for them.”

For businesses, holiday sales are important for keeping customers shopping during difficult times, such as the three-day after-Thanksgiving sale at Ace Hardware in Goffstown.

Karen Henderson, the store’s general manager, said she doesn’t expect business to be down this year, but expects customers to be more selective.

“I would say that we haven’t noticed a significant change in overall volume of customers, but people being more careful with what they choose,” Henderson said. “People are starting their Christmas shopping already, and really looking for those bargains early on.”

Henderson also said she expects people to give gifts that focus on what people need, such as gift cards, rather than luxury items.

Giving a holiday experience to town residents at no cost is important to the Hopkinton Recreation Department, as Recreation Director Justin La Vigne has organized several programs that town members can take part in.

The department sponsors a holiday lighting contest, breakfast with Santa, and a new program that allows children to receive a call from Santa, all for a minimum price.

“They’re fun things, and it’s good to do stuff for the community that is free or very low cost,” said La Vigne. “It isn’t just the children that love it, it’s the adults who do too.”

Residents may be forced to change their holiday plans, but one thing remains constant. “We cut back on gifts, but we still get together to eat,” said Therrien. “That’s 100 percent important to us.”