A team of St Vincent de Paul members in Brisbane, along with their elves from the Vinnies Youth team, are helping to ease cost-of-living pressures on families by packing hundreds of hampers at St Patrick’s Church in Fortitude Valley. Source: Catholic Leader.
A recent survey by the St Vincent de Paul Society Australia found that about 62 per cent of Australian families are concerned about cost-of-living pressures this Christmas.
Furthermore, 49 per cent of Australian families with children under 18 worry about being able to put food on the table for the holidays.
To help bring some Christmas cheer, the Vinnies hampers included food, goodies and toys for Brisbane residents who were doing it tough financially.
Last year Vinnies delivered more than 5700 hampers across Queensland.
The rising costs of housing and groceries reflected in the growing number of requests for help, Vinnies Brisbane diocesan president Maree Harmon said.
“For families who are struggling to survive from one day to the next, Christmas can be a time of stress and isolation,” she said.
“But with community support, we can ensure every family experiences the joy and connection the festive season brings.”
“Thanks to the commitment and care of our volunteers and members, we’ve been able to provide essential services such as accommodation, food and companionship to over 35,000 people in our Brisbane community,” Ms Harmon said.
She said every contribution this Christmas helped provide a hand up to vulnerable people in urgent need of relief, support and cheer.
St Vincent de Paul supported nearly 70,000 residents from the Greater Brisbane region is the past financial year.
St Vincent de Paul Society’s Christmas Appeal is open to donations to help fund food, emergency accommodation and essentials.
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Volunteers light up Christmas for families facing tough times (The Catholic Leader)
