FARMINGTON – Operation Santa Claus has received a lot of donations this year but also has lots of requests, program director Janet Smith said.

Santa’s helpers were busy wrapping presents and filling orders Tuesday at their North Pole location in the Mt. Blue Shopping Center. While there were still piles of toys and clothes ready for wrapping, the crew had just finished filling orders for 306 families of the more than 450 families that applied for assistance.

The economy and local job market have factored in to what one volunteer said is more requests than in past years. This is Smith’s first year leading the program and information about previous years was unavailable, she said.

Operation Santa Claus, now in its 37th year, is a gift program that provides toys, clothing and other items to children and seniors in need in the Franklin County area.

“We try our best to get what people request,” Smith said.

This Friday is the last day the program can accept gifts. Deliveries will begin Monday. Some families pick up their gifts starting Friday, she said.

There are still some tags left on the giving tree at Wal-Mart and cash donations may be mailed to Western Maine Community Action, Operation Santa Claus, P.O.Box 200, East Wilton, Me. 04234, she said.