When asked how long they’ve been in a certain location, an officer in the Salvation Army usually will tally the number of Christmases spent there.

“This is our rush hour,” said Capt. Delia Carroll, who oversees the Salvation Army’s operations in Springfield with her husband, Capt. Steven Carroll.

The Carrolls are about to mark their fourth Christmas in Clark County — and every year, demand for the Salvation Army toy drive has only gone up.

This holiday season, the local Salvation Army will fulfill the role of Santa Claus for 944 families, giving toys and gifts to 1,970 children.

That’s about the same number of kids the Salvation Army helped last year, Carroll said, but the number of families asking for assistance this year increased by 75.

“Ten percent of our families are here for the first time,” she said. “They can barely keep the lights on, but they want to give their kids a Christmas. That’s what we’re here to help them with.”

While the Nov. 1 deadline to sign up has passed, now is the time when the Salvation Army itself needs help.

“We’ll take anything,” Carroll said. “Clothing is always good. What kid doesn’t need clothing?”

Unwrapped toys and gifts will be accepted through Dec. 12. Donations can be made between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Salvation Army, 15 S. Plum St.

They’ll also collect toys from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at both Walmart locations in Springfield.

Children in the program are guaranteed two toys apiece and, if possible, clothes and stocking stuffers, Carroll said.

The Salvation Army in Springfield differs from other chapters, she said, in that it extends the toy drive to 18-year-old 12th graders. The typical cutoff age elsewhere is 12, she said.

That presents a challenge — not enough gifts for older kids.

“It’s easy to buy a Dora toy,” Carroll said. “It’s a lot more fun to shop for the younger kids.”

Many local businesses also sport Christmas trees with removable tags on them containing a child’s age and wish list.

Between Christmas 2010 and Christmas 2011, local demand for the program skyrocketed. The Salvation Army found itself in 2011 needing to help 300 more kids than in 2010, Carroll said.

“I know the economy’s still not good,” she said.

This year, Carroll has seen an increase in the number of working families who just can’t make ends meet.

“They’re the ones that have trouble coming in and asking for help,” she said, sharing stories of how they often cry as they fill out the application.

Locally, the Salvation Army doesn’t ask to see proof of a family’s income, choosing instead to help anyone who musters the strength to ask.

“I don’t turn anyone away,” Carroll said.