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Christmas hamper shortage looming

LESLEE HALLSouth Western Times

Charities are experiencing a rise in the number of families seeking help this Christmas, while some may be forced to cut Christmas cakes for hampers in half due to a shortage of donations.

The Salvation Army Bunbury crisis centre coordinator Marion Myles said she had received more than 300 requests for Christmas hampers this year, with more than 230 coming from families.

In comparison, last year’s requests mainly came from singles and couples without children.

“People just can’t make ends meet with electricity, water, gas and medical bills,’’ Ms Myles said.

Jeni Goddard has been putting together hampers for people in need for almost 10 years with the support of the Lions Club of Eaton and said she had received more requests than expected this year.

She said there had been a few deaths and illnesses in families and also quite a few separations contributing to the higher number.

Ms Myles said the donation response this year had been the poorest she had seen in the seven years she had been organising the hampers.

She said they had received less than 10 per cent of the usual amount of donations.

“I’m just going to have to give normal everyday parcels — baked beans, spaghetti, that sort of thing,’’ Ms Myles said.

“There probably won’t be any hams this year, we’ll have to give corned beef instead.’’

She said there had not been many donations of Christmas-related items and she may be forced to cut Christmas cakes in half and separate packets of fruit mince pies and bon bons to stretch supplies.

The Intown Centre manager Leanne Gibbs said a lot more families were requesting everyday help this year.

“I think it’s the rising cost of everything financially throughout the year — the market has been volatile and people aren’t sure where they stand,’’ she said.

She said it would be an “extreme struggle’’ to fulfil all the hamper requests that had come in.

The Intown Centre and the Salvation Army Bunbury are working with St Vincent de Paul Society Bunbury and the Department of Child Protection for the second year in a row to distribute food hampers to those in need this Christmas.

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