Logan City’s Salvation Army is seeking urgent support as local residents struggling with the cost-of-living skip meals and eat expired food.
The local Salvos team last week launched its 60th Red Shield Appeal, aiming to raise $14,000 for services catered towards Logan’s most vulnerable.
Lieutenant Ashley Beirmann said the Logan community needed support now “more than ever”.
“With everything that is presented with the pressures people are facing financially, it is a really challenging time,” he said.
“Those pressures have been manifesting in a whole variety of areas in the community, whether it be losing your accommodation, which is so difficult to find, or whether it’s spilling out into domestic and family violence.
“It’s not a good picture at the moment, and our main focus is to be present with people, be a listening ear, and provide help where needed.”
A survey of 1500 people who had reached out to Salvos’ financial relief service found 94 per cent struggled to afford essentials, such as housing, groceries, medical care, and utilities.
Almost two-thirds of respondents had skipped meals and nearly half had to choose between paying for housing or buying food.
A 33-year-old mother who accessed Salvos’ support said she was constantly borrowing money from friends “due to not being able to buy essentials”.
“I’m having to go days without eating so my kids can eat, cancelling specialist appointments that are a requirement for my health due to the cost of living,” she said.
The research also found 27 per cent of respondents were forced to consume expired or spoiled food, while 1 in 20 had to eat food from rubbish bins.
“In a lucky country like Australia, individuals and families shouldn’t have to make these sorts of decisions, like choosing whether to eat, pay rent or send your kids to the doctor,” Mr Beirmann said.
“But these are the people the Salvos help every day as we try to give a new beginning to those struggling in our community.”
While the Logan team is looking for donations, they are also hoping to attract a few volunteers.
Mr Beirmann said all the money raised locally would remain in Logan, funding homelessness, family and domestic violence, youth, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and financial hardship services.
“A pathway of hope is what we want to provide in the years ahead as we open up our new venue at 1 Station Road in Logan Central,” he said.
“The development application has been approved and the works have started.
“It will be a gathering place where people can touch all the services that might be able to support them.”
