Some of the stories were humorous, some were creative - and some were touching.
Several people entered the Publix Holiday Dinner contest on YourHub.com by nominating others who (they believed) needed to win a meal but might not have entered for themselves.
A few people requested that their entries be withdrawn from the contest so others, whom they deemed more deserving, would have a better chance of winning.
Publix responded in kind by increasing the prize.
"It has come to our attention that many families are in need of a little assistance during the holidays," said Shelley King, media manager for Publix, in a letter to Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers.
"Therefore, Publix has decided to offer additional winners a free holiday dinner from the Publix Deli - going from just 10 winners to a total of 50. Fifty winners will now receive a $70 Publix gift card to purchase a Publix Deli Holiday Dinner and/or other groceries."
Ten winners were selected at random from the nearly 100 entries in accordance to the stated contest rules, and Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers employees then selected another 40 for the remainder of the Publix gift cards.
The following entries were selected.
Phyllis Diese, Vero Beach
Ann Gilmore, Fort Pierce
Anita Emelianchik, Port St Lucie
Jim Wethington, Port St. Lucie
Joan Sabella, Sebastian
Tracey Mimms, Port St. Lucie
Denise Miller, Port St. Lucie
Laura Melton, Port St. Lucie
Keith Srinivasan, Vero Beach
Thomas Clark, Vero Beach
William Baughman, Sebastian
Shauna Calloway, Vero Beach
Paula Macri, Hobe Sound
Johnnie Mae Franklin, Fort Pierce
Sharon George, Fort Pierce
Nancy Altic, Vero Beach
Marcia Insler, Port St. Lucie
Carl Radish, Port St. Lucie
Deborah Bliven, Port St. Lucie
Brett Parker, Port St. Lucie
Victoria Huggins, Port St. Lucie
Valerie Hall, Port St. Lucie
Patti Bough, Vero Beach
Sheryl Wickham, Sebastian
Michael Kane, Palm Bay
Mary Saubert, Vero Beach
Patricia Walter, Port St. Lucie
Marie Crisci, Port St. Lucie
Deborah Fisher, Fort Pierce
Lorena Verney, Fort Pierce
Judi Harrison-Cronrath, Fort Pierce
Katrina Diller, Vero Beach
Megan Dewitt, Vero Beach
Leslie Mayper, Port St. Lucie
Monica Nelms, Port St. Lucie
Francesca Fiordilino, Jupiter
Patricia Yohrling, Port St. Lucie
Mary White, Port St. Lucie
Gregory Rogolino, Port St. Lucie
Maggie Stalhut, Fort Pierce
Janis Murillo, Stuart
Phyllis Briggs, Crawfordville
Michele Byrd, Vero Beach
Linda Musella, Port St. Lucie
Carol Gallick, Fort Pierce
Gayle Baker, Fort Pierce
Judy Morse, Fort Pierce