Community Voice
with Dandenong Community Advisory Bureau manager Jinny McGrath
CHRISTMAS and the January period can be a difficult time for people, especially if they are on a low income and if they have children.
A recent survey of clients accessing support services at The Salvation Army found that, after accommodation costs, the majority lived on less than $20 per day.
For individuals living on Newstart this was closer to $9 per day.
This leaves little available for everyday expenses let alone special occasions like Christmas or meeting back-to-school costs of uniform and books.
With emergency relief agencies in the City of Greater Dandenong losing over $250,000 per year in funding from the Federal Government, we are all really struggling to assist people this Christmas.
Therefore the Dandenong Community Advisory Bureau, the Dandenong Benevolent Society and the Doveton Salvation Army have joined together to organise a Christmas Cheer Appeal.
The community advice bureau is co-ordinating the donations.
We are appealing to businesses and the general community to help make Christmas a special time for those experiencing financial hardship in our area.
With assistance we hope to improve well-being for people on low incomes who live in the target area by enabling them to access extra assistance at Christmas time; provide parents with choice in selection of presents for their children and thus maintain dignity and reduce financial hardship; and bring good cheer to single and alone people on low incomes by providing a gift at Christmas time.
Donations will be used to assist families in need.
A $25 gift card for Kmart, Target or Big W will buy a present for a child.
A $25 donation will help a household buy some special Christmas foods. A $15 donation will buy a present for a person who is alone at Christmas.
Donations can be made by sending a cheque to Dandenong CAB, 186 Foster Street East, Dandenong 3175, donating online at https://www.givenow.com.au/dandenongcabchristmascheer or calling 9791 8344 to discuss further.
