Since launching their mobile pantry in Berwick last August, the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria has seen a 235 per cent increase in people waiting for essentials like rice, canned fish and pasta on its fortnightly visit.
The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria has launched its Spring Appeal to help narrow the food insecurity gap.
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria group chief executive Dr Jenny Fitzgerald AM said 88 per cent of calls received for metropolitan welfare assistance related to food needs.
“Our volunteers and members on the ground tell us that the lines of people waiting for our Vinnies soup vans and mobile pantries grow longer and longer,” she said.
“They see more mums, dads, and younger people turn up, often over an hour before our vans arrive to ensure they get food.”
Dr Fitzgerald said deciding between feeding their children or buying other essential was “heart-wrenching”.
“It’s heartbreaking to hear stories of mothers who can’t sleep at night, because they don’t have enough food to fill their children’s lunch boxes the next day or because they have to choose between buying much-needed prescribed medication and going hungry,” she said.
“Every dollar you give to our Spring Appeal ensures, that together, we can fill empty plates, lunch boxes and, importantly, empty tummies.”
St Vincent de Paul Society policy and research manager Gavin Dufty said he was concerned about the increase of people seeking assistance who have jobs and earn wages and salaries.
“It highlights the extent and impact of cost of living pressures,” he said.
“Everybody is being impacted – some much more severely than others.
“They are seeking support for food after they have forked out money for other necessities such as rent, mortgage, utilities, petrol, public transport, medical and education expenses.”
For more information, visit https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-vic/spring.
