The Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center is scrambling to find new Santas to provide toys for 93 youngsters who live at the Wailuku, Maui, shelter.

Center staff were notified this week that two companies that provided gifts for children in years past are not going to be able to do so this year because of financial problems related to the economic recession, said shelter director Becky Woods.

"We've never had this problem before, ever. It really shows how the economy has affected so many," she said. "A child has only a few Christmases in his life and he should remember each Christmas fondly."

The children at the shelter include eight infants under the age of 1; 40 keiki from ages 1 to 5; 30 from ages 6 to 12; and 15 from ages 12 to 17.

"We do get some toy donations and we really appreciate them, but there are so many children," Woods said. "We're also hoping that any business, even a small business, or any family or group of people who get together for any reason this season will ask employees or guests to bring unwrapped toys."

New toys and cash donations may be dropped off at Ka Hale A Ke Ola, 670 Wai'ale Road in Wailuku. For more information, call 242-7600.