News
10 December, 2024
Stretching out support service
Demand for community support services has soared across Moreton Bay and Somerset this Christmas, as rising living costs push more families into hardship.
Local not-for-profit groups report a surge in requests for help, with food pantries emptying daily and Christmas hamper programs under strain.
Caboolture Salvation Army reported a few weeks ago it was seeing 100 more families reaching out for support, compared to November last year, with Woodford Community House (WCH) president, Luisa Garcia, adding: “the struggle is real”.
WCH, a volunteer run, not-for-profit group which operates as a food bank to the Woodford and surrounds community by keeping a community pantry and refrigerator stocked, and providing food hampers, said the pantry is being emptied out daily.
Ms Garcia said the demand reflected broader economic pressures. The WCH pantry, restocked daily by volunteers, was seeing unprecedented use.
“People like the anonymity of accessing the pantry, but if they need food more than twice a week, a hamper is a better, longer-lasting option,” Ms Garcia said.
WCH was urging residents to nominate themselves or others for Christmas hampers to spread some festive cheer.
“For those struggling, please know that people care,” she said.
Nominations close on December 13, with hampers delivered before Christmas.
Contact 0493 675 263 for details.
Vinnies Deception Bay said it was supporting nearly 2,000 locals, with that number continuing to rise.
Vinnies’ Deception Bay Conference President, Sonya O’Leary, said rent hikes were a major factor behind the increased demand her organisation was seeing.
“When rent goes up by $80 a week, that’s often the tipping point,” she said.
Vinnies will provide Christmas hampers for 45 families, including over 90 children, but Ms O’Leary warns that services will shut down over the holidays.
“Don’t wait until just before Christmas to seek help,” she said. “You don’t need expensive gifts; your time is the most precious gift you can give.”
Caboolture Community Care (CCC) manager, Craig Jones, lamented the commercialisation of Christmas.
“This is driven by media and advertising that tells you that you are a failure if you do not have the new piece of plastic crap out on the market this year,” he said.
“Unfortunately, with the rising costs across the board, most people cannot meet this expectation of uncontrolled craving.”
CCC said it had recorded a 76 per cent increase in client numbers from last financial year.
Rising costs have forced CCC to stretch resources with new programs, but warned that services may be overextended next year.
“We have instigated certain new programs and guidelines that have allowed us to maintain services, but this will easily be stretched if the upcoming financial year is the same,” Mr Jones said.
New Season’s Church Esk, which provides emergency food hampers throughout the year and Christmas hampers with LJ Hooker, said it was also seeing an increase in demand.
Senior pastor of New Season’s Church Esk, Debra Millerick, added they have noticed a change in the demographic seeking assistance, with more families, single women and couples reaching out.
“The other thing that has given us a big insight from last year is that donations were not matching our needs last year, so we see this as people not being in a place of comfort to be as generous as previous years and the shortfall being picked up by LJ Hooker and New Season’s Church,” she said.
“We see the hampers as showing people they are seen and they are remembered and that they matter.
“Isolation is a big need both financially and physically.
“If we can bridge this gap in our community we are blessed to do so. People matter.
“Our generosity might be all someone needs this Christmas to turn things around in their lives.”
CCC’s Mr Jones added a positive note for the new year: “A new year is just around the corner with 12 new chapters and 365 pages of things that have never occurred before, all of which gives us each an opportunity for achieving greatness.”
Vinnies launched their Christmas Appeal to help provide essentials like food, clothes, medication and housing support to those in need. Donations can be made at donate.vinnies.org.au or by calling 13 18 12.
Donations for New Season’s Church hampers can be left at LJ Hooker offices in Esk and Toogoolawah or at New Season’s Church services until December 14. Hampers will be delivered in the week leading up to Christmas.
As the festive season approaches, the message from these organisations is clear: community generosity can make all the difference.
