Hungry turn to internet for help
RESIDENTS of Highton, Belmont and Waurn Ponds were among those hitting up the internet to find food relief when the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
Statistics show the 3216 postcode was one of the most prolific users of online charity directory Ask Izzy during March and April.
In total, the site fielded more than 130,000 searches — more than 2000 a day — for food relief in that two-month period, with Melbourne topping the list, the 3216 postcode second, followed by Werribee and Point Cook, Dandenong, Hoppers Crossing and Tarneit, Frankston, St Albans, Craigieburn and Cranbourne.
Ask Izzy, a free website developed by InfoXchange, has been running hot this year linking Australians to local support services during bushfires and the COVID-19 state of emergency.
And the four-year-old website had its highest day of usage on March 23 — when coronavirus shutdowns took effect — with 15,818 hits over 24 hours from people seeking food relief, Centrelink, employment and financial help.
Food accounted for more than a third of Ask Izzy searches in March and April.
InfoXchange chief executive David Spriggs said the data showed the widespread impact of business shutdowns and job losses across the country this year. “A lot of the people doing the searches had never needed welfare support before,” he said.
During March and April the website fielded 131,120 searches for food charities, a 79 per cent jump when compared with the same period last year.
Behind those searches were families, students or individuals whose lives had been turned upside down when social distancing rules took their toll on businesses and jobs.
Uniting’s Cathryn Ryan said rising job losses during the lockdown meant more people were asking for assistance.
“We’ve been seeing newly unemployed people, families, many of whom have been unable to access JobSeeker or JobKeeper payments, including migrants of working visas, international students and people seeking asylum,” Ms Ryan said.
“We’re especially concerned about the increase in demand we’re seeing from older people who are socially isolated and people with disabilities who have had their regular care disrupted and people with medical issues.
“Food security is also a priority issue for us with some areas able to access an abundance of fresh food and others reporting difficulties accessing sufficient supplies for their needs.”