CHARITIES SWAMPED
LOCAL charities are concerned they will not be able to keep up with growing demand for support this Christmas as calls for help rise across Townsville.
The Salvation Army Riverway Recovery Mission’s Robyn Lewis said the organisation was seeing an increase in middle- class Australians seeking support.
“Rising fuel and power prices have had an impact on people’s ability to be able to afford general living,” she said.
“We are seeing far more working families come in for assistance because bills are getting so high and affording things is getting quite difficult.
“I think this year will definitely be our biggest year assisting the Townsville community from a Salvation Army standpoint.”
The Salvation Army Riverway Recovery Mission supports 80 to 100 families a month on average.
During October, 171 families requested help.
Captain Andrew Hambleton said normal North Queenslanders were finding it hard to cope.
“The people that are struggling are the ordinary, everyday mums and dads, single mums,” he said. “I think there is a variety of reasons people struggle at this time of year.”
Captain Hambleton said this week had already proved significantly busier than last.
“The last 48 hours we’ve seen more new faces than we’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “It has picked up incredibly.” St Vincent De Paul Townsville executive officer Ruben Omaji said their call centre had been receiving up to 50 calls a days for people needing help.
“Our call centre is open for 4 ½ hours a day and more often than not it rings non- stop,” he said. “The need is certainly there.”
He said a growing number of Australians were struggling to afford to celebrate Christmas. “It’s a very BUNNINGS Warehouse has come on board as a main collection point for Share the Dignity’s annual It’s In the Bag drive, starting today.
The charity collects vital sanitary and hygiene products for disadvantaged women, donated in an old handbag and distributed for Christmas.
Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay said donating to women who would be spending Christmas in a refuge or on the streets was the perfect opportunity to “drop a bag and grab a snag”. “Every single bag has the opportunity to change someone’s life,” Ms Courtenay said. delicate and sensitive time,” he said.
Mr Omaji said St Vincent De Paul did its best to help families stand on their own feet again, especially in the Christmas period.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said many locals would be doing it tough throughout the Christmas period.
“The needs are so great in Townsville, unfortunately.”
Townsville Share the Dignity volunteer Nandita Hannam said donated pads, tampons, liners and hygiene products like shampoo, soap, a hairbrush, a toothbrush or moisturiser make a huge difference to victims of domestic violence, homeless women or women from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
“Basically, it’s for anyone who needs those products and has to make a decision between food and those products,” she said.
State volunteer Larnie Shoesmith said bags that were donated locally were distributed locally.
“The city’s economy is starting to recover, but we have been through more than five years of lean times,” Cr Hill said. “Many people are still struggling to find work or not getting enough hours at their job to be financially secure.
“We all know how tough it has
“It would be wonderful if people could donate a handbag, new or preloved but still in respectful condition, filled with the basic necessities this Christmas, a simple reminder for these women and young girls that they are not forgotten about,” she said.
Volunteer Mel Davies says her young children, aged 2 and 6, help out with the simple charity idea.
“It’s good, especially coming up to that age, in a few years’ time we’re going to be having more conversations about pads and tampons,” she said. “It’s part of life, women need it.” More info: sharethedignity. com. au/ christmas- charity/ been for some in our community, particularly those families who had someone close to them lose their job at Queensland Nickel.”
Coca- Cola this week announced it would partner with The Salvation Army to help three struggling regional communities, including Townsville and Mount lead- up to Christmas.
The Salvation Army said the need for support went beyond the Christmas and New Year period, and families often struggled to afford the necessities to send children back to school. Isa, in the