<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>330074</docID> <postdate>2024-10-01 08:43:32</postdate> <headline>Charities buckle under surge for non-food aid requests</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-330075" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20200110001441308291-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Charities across Australia say demand for essential non-food products has exploded. (Erik Anderson/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>William Ton</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Charities could be forced to turn away desperate Australians as they face an unprecedented surge in demand for essential non-food items.</strong></p> <p>About eight in 10 charities across Australia say demand for essential non-food products has exploded, according to a report from charity distributor Good360.</p> <p>The survey of more than 500 Australian charities and disadvantaged schools revealed 84 per cent expect the cost-of-living crisis to supercharge demand for these items in the coming year, with personal hygiene products, clothing and educational supplies topping the list.</p> <p>Eastern Hills Community Pantry handed out $900,000 worth of items in 2023 with half being non-food related, manager Kerry Retallack said.</p> <p>"Last year, we asked OzHarvest for 50 hampers and handed out 86 for Christmas.</p> <p>"This year, we're asking for 100 and we're aiming to hand out 160," Ms Retallack told AAP.</p> <p>The Perth-based charity provides various non-food essentials including kitchen items, toiletries, clothing and toys.</p> <p>"With toothbrushes, kids come in and go, 'Mum, can we have a new toothbrush? They've got one here', and you know they've been making do with an old one," she said.</p> <p>Struggling double-income earners are increasingly seeking help but the issue is affecting Australians across the board amid skyrocketing rents and mortgages.</p> <p>"We've reduced the amount people are allowed to take, as opposed to turning someone back," Ms Retallack said.</p> <p>But the charity could be forced to do so, she said, if the influx of people struggling to afford essentials continued.</p> <p>On the east coast, western Sydney charity Dignity has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of people reaching out for help who are on the edge of homelessness or experiencing homelessness.</p> <p>"I've not seen it at levels like this before," charity chief executive Suzanne Hopman told AAP.</p> <p>The charity has to rely on Good360 to supplement it with non-food-related essentials for women and children entering crisis accommodation.</p> <p>"They're having to make those difficult decisions as to whether to provide things for their family or to pay the rent for themselves," Ms Hopman said.</p> <p>"We're seeing people cutting corners on their health and wellbeing and items that they need to get by with the income that they have."</p> <p>About 65 per cent of charities are unable to meet demand for non-food aid, underscoring the need for more help in that category, the report found.</p> <p>The figures represented a frightening trend for charities that were on their knees and unsure how to keep up with demand, Good360 managing director Alison Covington said.</p> <p>More charities than ever are coming to her organisation asking for non-food aid and the managing director is asking for more government support.</p> <p>"You can't keep asking charities to do the work without funding them to do this good work," Ms Covington said.</p> <p>The report comes as the federal government announced a $15.8 billion surplus for the 2023/24 financial year, the second in two years.</p> <p>Treasurer Jim Chalmers denied suggestions the economic achievement meant less support for people struggling financially.</p> <p>Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie said an improved budget bottom line didn't mean much for people dealing with the increased cost of living.</p> <p>"Nobody's talking about a surplus," she said.</p> <p>"How about you put some of that surplus out to us so we can put bread and milk on the table for our kids and do that without raising inflation."</p> </body>