St Vincent de Paul Society Tasmania is halfway to its $80,000 target to keep its mobile meal vans on the road, as more Tasmanians seek help for the first time.
The society hopes to reach the target by the end of October, when its first-ever Vans Appeal closes.
The money will help run Vinnies Vans in the north and north-west and Loui’s Van in the south, which deliver food, information and support to people experiencing disadvantage after hours.
The vans offer hot meals, fresh fruit, drinks and referrals to community services and government agencies.
Northern regional president Rosie Caelli said the vans and their 250 volunteers helped more than 30,000 people across Tasmania each year.
“Operating up to six nights a week, the vans provide much more than food and a drink,” she said.
“For many a visit to the van can be the first step towards connecting with support services and rebuilding stability through a consistent point of connection.”
Caelli said cost-of-living pressures continued to strain Tasmanian households.
“Disappointingly, more and more people are seeking assistance for the first time,” she said.
Demand had been higher for most of the year, Caelli said.
Rising utility and petrol costs had hit people and some had lost casual wages or part-time jobs.
“We see families that are coming along to our services that have never used our services before and we also now have people that are actually employed but there still isn’t enough money to go around,” she said.
Vinnies’ Sam Grace said many people seeking help were underemployed.
“They’re not quite getting enough income coming through the door every week, so they need that top up, that support,” she said.
“Our volunteer teams may be the only people that they speak to that day.”
Grace said the funds would pay for supplies and vehicle maintenance.
The society said the money would also help it serve more people and improve the variety and quantity of food.
About $80 can provide roughly 20 warm meals and drinks, while $200 can cover a van’s fuel for about three weeks.
Vinnies receives government grants but also relies on donations from the community and businesses.
