Rising energy costs are putting pressure on family budgets with some forced to choose between paying for food or electricity.
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Warrnambool and District Food Share executive officer Dedy Friebe said winter had hit the south-west early with the organisation experiencing a 25 per cent increase in demand for its food hampers last week.
He said groceries were critical at this time of year and the organisation was distributing 800 kilograms of food daily across 100 registered organisations. Mr Friebe said the demand was a sign of things to come with families doing it tough as the cooler weather hit and energy usage increased, with people in need turning to Food Share.
St Vincent de Paul Glenelg Regional Council president Chris Pye agreed and said for some families the financial pressure was relentless.
“With winter approaching electricity and gas bills are still high on the agenda and in some respects people are just recovering from all the education expenses that they had early in the year,” Mr Pye said. “It’s never ending for some people.”
Mr Pye said demand for assistance from the charity organisation had increased across the south-west and statewide. “It seems like the cost of energy supply, gas and electricity, comes up in every conversation quite frankly. That’s the biggie at the present time.”
He said some families opted to go without gas and electricity to make ends meet. “To try and work within budgets people cut back on using their gas so it does happen. I’m not saying it’s right across the board but it does happen.”
He said Food Share provided hampers helping to relieve the pressure on families and free up some money in their budget for energy costs.
Mr Friebe is calling on the community for donations of pasta, rice, cereals and tinned soups to boost its supply of winter grocery staples to meet the growing demand.
“It (food donations) hits the target and they are the kids in the families going to school without breakfast and who have no food at home.”
To donate pasta, pasta sauce, rice, cereals, tinned soup and stews drop them to 24A Harrington Road, Warrnambool Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 12pm.
