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The Salvation Army’s Judith Lilley (left) and Maria Macdonald are in need of food and blankets to keep people in need warm and fed this winter. PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 040516-TM-0049
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A growing number of people in the Ashburton District are going without food and warmth as they struggle to make ends meet. They are part of an increasing network of need that is seeing people line up at the Salvation Army, with the number of emergency food parcels up almost 10 per cent over the past year, and demand for warmth heading into winter meaning their blanket supply is down to one. Ashburton is part of a country-wide surge in numbers needing help and nationwide the charity handed out more than 54,000 emergency food parcels last year. Ashburton Salvation Army foodbank manager Judith Lilley said that numbers had increase over the past year but had escalated recently and that was putting pressure on resources. “I’m seeing a lot more new cases, particularly from outlying areas like Meth-
ven and Rakaia.” Job losses and short seasons at local meat works played a part in ramping up the figures. “For a long time they (meat workers) could count on what they would earn with the expectation of a longer season, but those days are over,” Mrs Lilley said. A record number of dairy cattle have been slaughtered this season as farmers tighten their budgets in the face of a very low milk price. This means fewer bobby calves will be processed in the spring and is likely to result in a later than usual start for many in the industry. Many of these people turn to charities in the face of long stand-downs before they are eligible for assistance from Work and Income. “We do have a good rapport with Work and Income, we can talk to the case managers – sometimes we are able to advocate for the client to access assistance,” she said. Food bank reserves tend to fluctuate,
but heading into winter gaps are beginning to show on some shelves. “That’s not luxury items either – it’s basic groceries,” Mrs Lilley said. The Ashburton food bank can draw on Christchurch reserves for top-ups and the local community is “incredibly supportive” in making donations. Local churches have also contributed food items from recent harvest festivals but with winter heating bills on the way the charity is expecting to see more needy families. Blankets are also in demand, along with unprecedented requests for furniture. “Right now we are scrambling even to find a single bed, which is unusual,” Mrs Lilley said. Salvation Army volunteers are currently collecting for the charity’s Red Shield Week and every coin dropped in a collection bucket helps, Mrs Lilley said. All money collected in the district supports the local service.
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