A sudden spike in demand for food parcels has run Salvation Army's stocks dry.
Volunteers at the church's Whangarei office fear they may be forced to buy items for 200 Christmas hampers in a week's time.
The army's director of community ministries in Whangarei, Peter Mullenger, said there was "absolutely nothing spare" to hand out to those turning up in the lead-up to Christmas.
The situation has led to the Northern Advocate launching an appeal focusing on urgently gathering cash and food items for the Army.
The church's food bank on Aubrey St is seeing more than 30 families a day, instead of 20.