New numbers out by the U.S. Census Bureau show there will be the largest group of low income families ever struggling to make Christmas a success this year. 

Numbers released on Thursday indicate that a record number of Americans, nearly one in two, have now fallen into poverty or are squeezed by low-income earnings.

Local organizations, like the Family Service Association,are seeing the increase daily, and are offering all they can. 

Vice President David Blegen said it’s been a struggle this year for more and more families who have never tried to put on Christmas on so little earnings.

“Pay your rent first," he said, "then do what you can do, and make a new tradition.  Celebrate each other."

According to life coach Dr. Dee Kite, that’s great advice. 

She takes it a step further, adding, "For those families who have hit that financial roadblock, this is an opportunity ... an exciting one."

Dee recommends rethinking all the intense obligations involving expensive tinsel and toys and simplifying the entire experience. She says one gift from the heart -- or perhaps even homemade gifts -- are far less expensive than trying to fill the space beneath the tree with normal fare.

Her advice to guilt-ridden parents who worry about marring Christmas forever during what may be a temporary financial crisis is to use this as a way to figure out what this holiday should mean to the children and reconfigure it from this point forward.

Dee said it may be time to say, “We are changing the way we do Christmas.  And we are going to make it about giving and love and sharing.”

The Family Service Association admits that this year has been difficult to meet the needs of all the families who have asked for help, but suggests the first stop at this late hour before the holiday is to dial 211, the United  Way’s Help Line. 

All nonprofit organizations are tapped into the organization and they can pool their resources to help in a crunch.