Mystic - Despite the booming stock market and decreasing unemployment rate, the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center distributed gifts and food this Christmas to 550 families - its most ever.

"The need just seems to grow every year," said Vicki Anderson, the center's executive director, on Monday. "We just took in six new families today."

She said that for families who are just getting by, the holiday season is very difficult because they don't have the extra money for gifts and special meals.

While fuel costs are down, she said food costs and especially electricity bills continue to rise. She said many people served by the center are working two or three minimum wage jobs and can be devastated by an illness or a large car repair bill.

Anderson said people do not always have the training needed for the good jobs that are available and overall there are no longer the number of high-paying middle class jobs there once were.

"I hope there's a turnaround but I'm concerned about the future," she said.

But thanks to a large number of residents, churches, schools and businesses who donated food and gifts, she said the center was able to help all 550 families from Stonington, North Stonington and Westerly who requested assistance.

"The community could not have been any better. People were amazingly generous," Anderson said.

The work began in November and involved about 80 volunteers. Last weekend they boxed and distributed the food and gifts that filled the neighborhood center.

"It's an enormous undertaking," Anderson said. "This can't happen without volunteers from our community. This is their neighborhood center. They take pride in helping people in the community."

Anderson said that, when she applies for a grant for the center, she has to show that there will be a beneficial outcome.

With the center's Christmas assistance, she said "the outcome is that these families have a very happy Christmas morning."

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas