EASTER will be a lean time for hundreds of families in the northern suburbs, welfare groups warn.
At least two local charities have closed emergency relief services until after Easter, while others can’t keep up with demand.
One organisation ran out of food vouchers in mid-February and a recorded telephone message says its emergency relief services are closed “until further notice”.
Whittlesea Community Connections spokesman Ben Rodgers said its cash relief service of up to $100 a person was able to help only 30 people a week and was turning away twice that many.
“It’s money for basics. One man needed $20 for prescription medication, others need money for petrol or new shoes for their kids,” he said.
Mr Rodgers said many families were suffering financial stress from housing costs, job loss or a reduction in working hours. He said several churches and other charities had used up their resources and had put their relief services on hold.
The Reverend Kevin Potter, of the Countrywide Community Missions, hands out food parcels from his Epping home. He said he could not meet demand so would close until after Easter.
He said people who had been forced from single parent and other pensions onto the Newstart allowance had “nothing left” after rent.
“They tell me they have lost $180, $200 a fortnight, and are crying, they have nothing,” Mr Potter said.
“I took a food parcel around to a woman with five kids a day after she had called, and the kids were waiting on it; they had nothing for dinner.”
Pat Carfi of the Open House Christian Church in Lalor said the “shelves are almost empty” in its food distribution centre.
“We get a month’s supply but find we run out in two weeks,” Mr Carfi said.
– Sue Hewitt
