Captain Ashley Barkmeyer from The Salvation Army in Logan City has never seen so many families in need during this holiday season.
The Salvation Army, a national charitable organisation helping those experiencing hardship or injustice, are seeing an increase in people coming to them in search of help following a tough year in the face of bushfires, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re seeing a huge need in Logan, probably a lot more than ever before, of people coming [to the Salvation Army],” Captain Barkmeyer said. “A lot of people have found themselves in a new situation where they’ve lost their jobs, they’ve got mortgages to pay, they’ve got school fees to pay, and now they’re not working, because of the pandemic.
“A lot of people are coming in to enquire about our services and how we can help them. This holiday season has been one of the busiest times we’ve ever had since we’ve been in Logan for over 8 years, and the demand is ever increasing at Christmas time.”
Captain Barkmeyer said that hundreds of families across Logan City will need support this Christmas, and over 3,000 Queensland families will also be asking for help during the holidays.
According to recent research for The Salvation’s Army Christmas Appeal, following the financial and emotional impacts of COVID-19, bushfires and drought in 2020, one in five Queenslanders are concerned about being able to pay for Christmas expenses this year compared to 2019.
Not only this, but 27 per cent of Queenslanders are feeling more anxious, 20 per cent are feeling depressed, and 30 per cent are feeling stressed, when compared with last year.
Public Relations Secretary for Queensland, Simon Gregory, is encouraging Australians to give generously to the Christmas Appeal to help ensure that no one is in need this Christmas.
“Salvation Army is helping people all around Queensland who have been affected through COVID,” Mr Gregory said. “We’re hoping to help over 3,000 families this year, which is an increase on last year by about 15 per cent.”
“The Salvation Army is really encouraging people to make an effort with friends and family this season, and we’re doing everything we can to make sure people don’t feel alone this Christmas.
“We’re making sure that when we reach out to those people in need, that they have food on the table, they have presents for the kids, and making sure we get those to them before Christmas.”
Mr Gregory says despite the hardship many people are facing, The Salvation Army is still receiving many donations from the community.
“We are just overwhelmed by the amount of support that we are getting from the public, either through donations, or donations of food and toys, particularly through the Kmart Wishing Tree,” he said.
The Salvation Army will be running it’s annual Christmas Toy and Hamper Drive to help anyone in need this Christmas.
To help those in need, donations can be made for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal at salvationarmy.org.au or by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58).
Donations can also be made in person at any Logan City Kmart store.
Find out more about Logan City’s Salvation Army here.
