Everyone deserves to have a happy Christmas.
But for Australia’s most vulnerable people, the most festive time of the year can also be the most stressful.
New research from the Salvation Army has found that after two years of COVID-19 upheaval, more Australians than ever are feeling financial and emotional pressure this Christmas, with 10.5 million people (40.7%) more stressed about their finances compared to last year and 7.6 million (29.4%) feeling lonelier this year.
The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal is more important than ever, aiming to raise $20 million to support vulnerable Aussies.
For those strapped for cash, the Salvos are also calling for gift donations.
To ensure no child misses out this Christmas The Salvation Army are calling Aussies to give generously.
The Salvation Army gift appeal is Australia’s biggest with around 40,000 gifts required in SA alone each year.
However, due to covid, online shopping or the fact that people are doing their Xmas shopping later, the gifts received to date are well down year on year – even compared to last year in the thick of covid. To add to the pressure, the need for assistance is up with some Salvos offices reporting around 30% increase in the number of children they have registered by families needing assistance with gifts.
Salvos SA Mark Foyle said “of the donations lacking, we are particularly in need of gifts for 9–16-year-olds which are often forgotten as they may not fit the ‘toy’ department gift category. However, items such as gift cards, sporting goods, and make-up are great for this demographic. They can be purchased and dropped under any Kmart Wishing Tree, at any Salvo’s Centre (not store) or wherever you see a donation point in another shopping centre”.
Any donations are welcome.
Typically, The Salvos at Christmas will***:
- Distribute more than 64,000 hampers and vouchers to those struggling to make ends meet at Christmas time.
- Give out hundreds of thousands of gifts and toys to families in need of a hand, to ensure that no child has to go without a present under the tree on Christmas Day.
- Provide more than 130,000 meals across the country during the Christmas period.
- Provide more than 66,000 beds for those in need of accommodation during the festive season.
“Christmas is the busiest time of the year for The Salvos. This is on top of our work year-round in areas such as homelessness, family and domestic violence, youth work, natural disaster support and emergency financial relief,” says Mark
“Our 2020 survey of the general population showed that 76% of Australians were looking forward to Christmas. The fact that this has dropped to 68% this year is telling and reflects the huge ongoing challenges being faced by all Australians right now.
“So we encourage everyone to focus on what really matters at Christmas – the values of peace, joy and hope. And to those in a position to do so, we urgently call on your generosity.”
To leave no one in need this Christmas, please donate to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal by visiting salvationarmy.org.au or calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58).
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