Members of SVDP at Bedford Parish, from left: Brian Preston, Lixia Jurak, Richard Jurak, Honey Rooney, and Mike Rooney. Photo: Supplied.
Struggling to keep the lights on and make rent, with barely enough money left each fortnight to buy food – this year, thousands of Western Australian families are facing Christmas in poverty.
Vinnies 2018 Christmas Appeal runs until the end of January 2019. This year, Vinnies is asking the WA community to help support people experiencing disadvantage by donating what they can.
Christmas means different things to all of us. But one thing is for certain – without the things that make it special, Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas at all.
Unfortunately, for too many Western Australian families, this Christmas is going to be another painful milestone on the road to poverty.
Volunteers in the SVDP WA Distribution Centre, packing Christmas Hampers. Photo: Supplied.
Vinnies Executive Manager of Member and Volunteer Services, Andrew York, says factors such as focussing on the paying bills or rent increases stress, and leaves little hope at Christmas time.
“Inadequate income and tough economic conditions contributes to people being in hardship. Christmas is a difficult time of year for people and families who are already under financial stress,” Mr York explained.
“It’s a struggle to do something as simple as have a meal, fresh clothes, or put a present under the tree.”
Volunteers in the SVDP WA Distribution Centre, packing Christmas Hampers. Photo: Supplied.
Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) reports in 2017, some 240,000 Western Australians are living below the national poverty line with a further 150,000 at risk of financial hardship.
“With the generous support from Western Australians, we are able to take action when a family is in crisis. Donating to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal can mean that we can restore the joy and security to families that have been impacted by poverty.”
Volunteers in the SVDP WA Distribution Centre, packing Christmas Hampers. Photo: Supplied.
In WA, he said, Vinnies assists and offers vital support to more than 40,000 people each year and work directly with people experiencing poverty by providing emergency relief support.
As part of our Christmas Appeal efforts, volunteers will be contributing their time to produce more than 3000 Christmas hampers that include tinned and packet food, cereals, biscuits, and condiments which will support close to 9000 people in WA this Christmas.
Anyone can take part in the 2018 Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Hold a fundraiser, have a community collection of non-perishable foods or donate what you can to the Appeal, any of these will help many WA families in need this Christmas.
Make it a Christmas filled with joy by supporting the 2018 Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
To donate to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal, call 13 18 12 or visit: vinnies.org.au