The Moncton Fire Department is entering a float in the city's Santa Claus parade for the first time this year to support people struggling to put a traditional meal on the table on Christmas Day.

Firefighter Christopher Jackson said promoting the upcoming turkey drive is a good way to encourage children to think about giving as the food bank demand continues to grow.

"Every year it increases so with the population building here the needy population also builds and we need to ramp up efforts every single year to keep this up and support the people that need our help," he said.

Food will also be collected at the parade Saturday night.

It's something Moncton's Food Depot counts on. It's running the Christmas Aid Food Box Campaign.

Last year donations at the parade were down. Food Depot director Ray Gould is keeping his fingers crossed.

"If we are short there we try to make it up with some other functions," he said.

There's a possibility of showers in the forecast for Saturday night's parade, but Jackson said he hopes that won't dampen spirits.