Tuesday, 26 March 2024
    19
    Oct
    Charity

    Charities experience surge

    Charities have been inundated with families and young people needing help to feed and support themselves plus take care of their mental health, the Herald Sun reports.

    Australia’s largest food-relief organisation Foodbank reported a demand for help had doubled since the COVID-19 crisis began. The Feed Appeal reported a 50-78 per cent increase in the need for food relief.

    Infoxchange, a not-for-profit social enterprise supported by News Corp Australia, saw a surge in March and during Victoria’s Stage 4 lockdown on its website Ask Izzy – that connects people with more than 370,000 support services including shelter, food, money help and health care.

    “Searches in Ask Izzy’s food category more than doubled in a single week in March at the beginning of the pandemic, and searches for Centrelink locations nearly quadrupled the following week,” Infoxchange chief executive David Spriggs said.

    “Food category searches in Melbourne increased by 42 per cent during Stage 4 lockdown and searches for money help increased by 25 per cent.”

    Its new campaign, Unexpected Turn, aims to reach millions of disadvantaged Australians who have unexpectedly found themselves struggling this year as a result of COVID-19.

    “It’s great to see this campaign raise awareness for people in need,” News Corp community ambassador Penny Fowler said.

    Musician and Unexpected Turn campaign spokesperson, Nellie Jackson, understands the importance of asking for help after she struggled with the mental health and financial impacts of having her band’s gigs and new album suddenly cancelled.

    “With Ask Izzy, you can just type in where you are and there you go, it’s all at your fingertips,” Nellie said. “Having that information is a powerful first step.”

    FULL STORY

    Charities see surge in Australians seeking help to support themselves (Herald Sun)

    Ask Izzy

    PHOTO

    Foodbank