The St Vincent de Paul Society has launched its Christmas Appeal in Tasmania, warning cost-of-living pressures are expected to keep driving demand for emergency relief across the state.
The charity’s southern regional president, Louise Wilson, said a growing number of people were returning to its emergency relief services after a long time away.
“I am noticing people that haven’t needed to come to us for a number of years are coming back,” she said.
“Their money just isn’t going as far as it used to and financially they can’t make it anymore due to rising costs of food, power and medical services.”
Wilson said those seeking help were “normally independent” and that “the face of financial hardship is changing”.
Chief executive Connie Digolis said members and volunteers were seeing “more people than ever” asking for help for the first time in their lives.
“These are working families, pensioners and young people who have simply run out of room in their budgets,” she said.
“Christmas should be a time of joy, but for too many Tasmanians it is a time of worry.”
When people using Vinnies emergency relief services were asked what they hoped for this Christmas, most spoke of family. One wished “to be with all of my kids”, while another hoped for “a nice cooked meal at the mother’s”.
Some said those hopes were out of reach. One person said they would love to have their family together, “but that will not happen so I will spend the day by myself”.
A parent experiencing homelessness said they did not know how they would provide for their children.
Vinnies Tasmania said it packed more than 1,250 Christmas food hampers each year, filled with staples such as milk and rice along with a Christmas treat.
Digolis said every dollar donated would stay in the state.
“No donation is too small,” she said.
Christmas decorations handmade by the society’s supported workforce at Tas Textiles are also on sale in Vinnies stores statewide, with all proceeds going to the appeal.
Donations can be made online, by calling 13 18 12 or at any Vinnies store.
