Unanderra resident Matthew* says paying for Christmas is becoming increasingly harder each year.
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“I haven’t had a Christmas in years... I can’t afford it,” he said.
The Salvation Army has assisted Matthew in the past via their welfare program, including giving him vouchers to help with living expenses.
The 56-year-old is on a disability pension.
“It’s about that time of year (when) all the bills come in, or I get paid two days after Christmas, stuff like that.
“It’s hard. It’s a bad time of year, there’s a lot of pressure on you. If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it.”
Meanwhile, there has been a substantial increase in the number of Australian children who won’t receive Christmas presents this year, according to new Salvation Army research.
The research, commissioned through Roy Morgan as part of The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal, surveyed more than a thousand people.
The results indicate that the equivalent of 1.6 million Australians with children under the age of 10 will not be providing a Christmas present to their children this year. This is an increase of more than one million compared to last year’s figures.
The new research also reveals that 735,000 Australians know 10 or more families who will experience financial hardship/poverty this Christmas; 13.1 million Australians know people who will be lonely this Christmas; and 9.5 million Australians revealed “paying for Christmas is getting harder and harder every year”.
Karen Walker, community fundraising and public relations co-ordinator, Illawarra Regional Office of The Salvation Army therefore asked the public to dig deep and support their Christmas Appeal.
Ms Walker said they expected to assist more than 500 families in the Illawarra this Christmas, with toys, gift cards and food hampers.
“We’re seeing a large increase in those who are coming to register for toys, and also for food hampers,” she said. “(This is) mainly due to things like housing affordability and increasing power prices, as well as general living expenses for people.”
To donate, visit salvos.org.au or phone 137 258.
The community can also being their donated gifts to 11-13 Burelli Street, Wollongong, Monday to Friday between 9am and 3pm.
“One thing we’re really still in need of is things like gift cards for teenagers,” Ms Walker said.
Balgownie resident Chloe Inglis, 14, volunteers with the Salvos, primarily at Christmas time, helping with tasks such as sorting donated gifts.
“The families are so over-joyed when they get given the gifts; even a little thing can make a big difference,” she said.
*Name changed by request
READ MORE: Families living off just $14 a day: Salvos