SA Charities Struggle This Christmas
South Australian charities this Christmas will struggle to help everyone in need of their aid as a surge in demand is met with a drop in donations.
Charity groups across the state have had an increasing number of people registering for their services, as has been seen across Australia.
However, a rise in demand is not the only concern.
South Australian support groups are reporting a decrease in the number of donations being received, such as toys and food, as the cost of living affects all income groups.
ac.care support worker, Deanne Swift, told ABC News: "We are nervous, as this time last year we had received a lot of toy donations, but this year we haven't received much at all … as people manage their own finances."
High costs are making it difficult for charity groups to then purchase what they need to cover remaining hampers and essential supply packs.
"Everything is increasing in price," Swift said.
"We can see that resonating through the community already with people coming in and needing assistance on a weekly basis.”
Puddle Jumpers, an Adelaide-based non-profit NGO which donates food and other goods to families in need, two weeks ago said they were facing "unprecedented demand".
They posted on Facebook that more and more people were accessing their services for the first time and the number of people picking up food each week in the western suburbs had jumped quickly from 150 to 600.
As a result, Puddle Jumpers had to limit the number of items people can access at their Western Food Hub to ensure everyone can get something.
"There's been close to 600 people through the doors over a few days and we have had people who had tears as they were so grateful for receiving help,” the organisation wrote on social media.
Puddle Jumpers chief executive, Melanie Tate, told ABC News that increased demand was only one half of the problem.
"...things are a bit lighter on the donation side, from things like schools or workplaces or even food industry places that are donating to us," she said.
Foodbank South Australia and Central Australia chief executive Greg Pattison told ABC News in early November some of their own regional hubs experienced record-breaking days “within the last two to three months”.
"Nowadays, a lot of the people that are actually coming in have jobs, 30 per cent have actually got mortgages,” he said.
"About 40 per cent of these have never needed any help or never sort food assistance in the past. Many of them don't see themselves as being part of the welfare system…"
Centacare Catholic Country South Australia chief executive, Jen Cleary, said the amount of people seeking their financial support had doubled this year.
"For the first time, we're seeing people struggling who are on a middle wage income."
"We're seeing people making the choice between paying rent or putting food on the table which is not acceptable."
Mr Pattison has called on the state government for more funding.
"We get really limited support from the state government, compared to other states and we're now at the point of talking to the government and saying 'look, we really need some more substantial level of support."