Low-income families feel holiday hunger

At least 32 families called Foodbank Geraldton for help during its 10-day Christmas closure.

The organisation closed its doors on Christmas Day and re-opened on Monday.

Manager Pat Hodges said she was “deeply saddened” to return to work this week to find families would have gone without food during the break.

“We had at least 32 phone calls over the Christmas break from people and families with severe food insecurity, ” she said.

“Even on Christmas Day people were ringing looking for food, which is so sad.

“We tried to provide everyone with enough food to last them until we re-opened this week and had turned no one away right up until Christmas Eve.”

Mrs Hodges said she believed a number of the callers were low-income earners who had overspent during the silly season and found themselves short with money for groceries.

“A majority of the people who called us are regular low-income earners who thought of their kids first to get presents for Christmas and left their food to the last minute, ” she said.

“I’m really disappointed we were unable to help these families because our goal is to eliminate hunger and help those with food insecurity.

“We are doing everything we can to provide food to these people and others who are suffering from hunger, but we need to remind people they need a referral for us to be able to help, and that way they can get financial assistance too.”

Foodbank is the largest food relief organisation in Western Australia.

Mrs Hodges said the number of people in need of help continued to grow and she expected the situation to worsen over the next year.

“With the price of living so high in the state, especially for remote and regional people. There is a big demand for help with food, bills and affordable housing, ” she said.